The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Western Zone, has strongly condemned the attack on military personnel in Okuama community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.
Recall that the 16 soldiers, including the Commanding Oficer, two majors, one captain, and 12 others were surrounded and killed by mercenaries in Okuama last week.
The incident has since received widespread condemnation from various quarters and was described as a ‘despicable act’ by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
The IYC in its reaction signed by Dr Doubra Okotete – Chairman, Comr. Omoghomi Olu-Derimon – Secretary and Comr. Luguard Izoukumor – Information Officer, also called on Vanguard Newspaper to retract it’s report suggesting that the action was perpetrated by Ijaw youths.
The statement reads;
“The IYC Western Zone write to officially condem the killing of military personnel in Okuama Community, Ughelli South LGA, Delta State while also sympathising with the families of our gallant soldiers and the Nigerian Military.
“We read with utmost dismay on Vanguard posited by Kingsley Omonobi, alleging Ijaw involvement in an attack on soldiers that were killed at Okuama Community in Ughelli South LGA of Delta State, describing such an allegation as a deliberate act trying to twist facts and paint dark the image of our people and we strongly frawn at such satanic and disgusting statement knowing fully well that it was an illustrious Ijaw son that was held hostage by the Okuama youths that the military officers where trying to rescue before they were ambushed.
“While we do not also want to support the decision of the Nigeria Military in burning down the entire Okuama Community leaving the already impoverished inhabitants to suffer, we wish to encourage the Delta State Government to swing into action by securing the lifes of the Okuama inhabitants.
“It is pertinent to clarify that Okuama community where this sad event occured is an Urhobo-speaking community in Ughelli South LGA, not an Ijaw community. While Okoloba who’s son that was held hostage and killed by the Okuama youths is an Ijaw community in Bomadi Local Government Area.
“We therefore demand a retraction from Kingsley Omonobi and Vanguard while emphasising that the Ijaws were not involved and will not do such to our military personnels.
“The Okuama/Okoloba communual crisis has been on for some time and we have been calling on the Delta State Government to intervene while indigens of Okoloba community were been kidnapped and killed on several occasions even before the recent hostage that is leading to this ugly and condemnable act.
“The Okuama and Okoloba communities are neighbours and are inter-married hence are brothers and sisters, and needless fighting each other.
“We are therefore using this medium to call on H.E Rt.Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Executive Governor of Delta State and the Nigerian security agencies to investigate and bring to book the culprits that are responsible in this despicable act.”
