The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, has decried the killings of four persons during a military invasion of Oluasiri community in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
Reportedly killed during the incident, which occurred last Thursday, were a mother and her six-month-old baby, as well as two other persons by soldiers during a security operation.
It was learnt that the military operation was launched to dislodge suspected militants and sea pirates allegedly hiding in Oluasiri community.
While some security personnel claimed the soldiers opened fire into the community following gunshot attacks from the suspected militants, the indigenes of Oluasiri community rubbished the claim, insisting that the military attack was unprovoked.
Reacting to the killings, the Chairman, IYC, Central Zone, Tare Porri, said the invasion was a provocative action by the mislitary, alleging the development confirmed the suspicion that the military is sectional and biased.
He said the military was determined only to wage war against the people of the Niger Delta, the Ijaw people, all in a bid to control the region’s oil, sustain Nigeria’s unjust unitary structure and resist calls for restructuring.
Porri said the invasion of Oluasiri community would heighten tensions in the region and could potentially lead to “a full-blown seige” capable of destabilising the country and the already existing peace created by Governor Seriake Dickson.
He said, “The military has insulted us to provoke war in our land. We call on the Federal Government to apologise without delay for this infantile act of deliberate provocation.
“This wanton act is an action against the laws of human rights and a threat to democracy. We kick against the logic of civility in a supposed free society to deploy overwhelming weapons and personnel of warfare against a peaceful community within the ambit of non-violence.
“President Muhammadu Buhari, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, must be held accountable for the military’s actions. There could be no justifiable excuses why soldiers would invade and murder an innocent baby and others.”
Porri called on the military to desist from further attempts at muzzling Ijaw people, through acts of premeditated assault or intimidation of communities.
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