Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State on Tuesday called on the military to continue with their painstaking investigation to unravel the killers of the 17 soldiers in Okuama Community in Delta State as well as their sponsors.
He assured that all those involved in the dastardly act must be brought to book to face the full wrath of the law.
Governor Diri who just visited Igbomotoru Community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area to see the aftermath of the military invasion of the community, was visiting one month after the military invaded the riverine community on March 17.
Addressing the leadership and cross section of the community at Igbomotoru Town Hall, Governor Diri condemned the brutal killing of the soldiers, regretting that it was unfortunate that what happened in Delta State is being felt by the people of the community in Bayelsa State.
Accompanied by the commanding officer 16 Brigade of the Nigeria Army, Yenagoa, Brigadier General Oluremi Obolo, secretary to the State Government, SSG, Nimibofa Ayawei, Ambassador Boladei Igali and other government officials, the governor warned youths that the era of militancy in Ijaw land was over adding that what is now obtainable is intellectual engagement.
Diri who was making his first public statement after the incident, commended the military high command for ensuring that what happened in Odi in 1999 did not happen in Igbomotoru Community.
“My advice to the military is that they must painstakingly investigate the killings in Okuama to ascertain those that are culpable so that innocent people will not be sacrificed. The truth is what Ijaw people want, that those behind the killings in Okuama should be properly investigated and unveiled to the Nigerian public. They should face the wrath of the law. That is my humble appeal to the Nigeria military and all the security agencies.
“Those who must have sponsored even the killers all should be brought to book. You cannot imagine soldiers who are actually expected to secure us as civilians being brutally murdered in broad daylight,” he stated
He lamented that oil is turning a curse rather than a blessing. “What are we looking for, is it the oil? Has oil actually become a curse in Ijaw nation rather than a blessing to Ijaw land? Has oil become a curse to Bayelsa State rather than a blessing to the people of Bayelsa State.
“That is why very efficient uncorrupted investigations should be launched, who knows if oil is part of what has led to these killings? We heard it was land issues, until the investigations are revealed, that is when we will know what truly caused this brutal killing of our security men. Nobody has the powers to take the life of another man”.
Stressing that the struggle in the region has advanced beyond militancy, the governor said, “We cannot go back to the days of Isaac Adaka Boro, this is a different era. Thank you for your patience and I believe that this will not happen again, not only in Igbomotoro Community but in all of our communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State and indeed in Ijaw land.
“I have come to tell you, Igbomotoru Community people that enough is enough. In every season there is a time for everything. The era of militancy is over and this is the era of intellectual engagement and this is what your government is set to do and your government has been doing.
“Ijaw people are very intelligent people, we can compete with anybody anywhere in the world and we should not be seen as cannon folders. This is a warning to those who are still cannon folders. They should have a rethink.”
He said the government is investing seriously in education to change the narrative.
“Your government is establishing schools particularly school with skills acquisition, science and technical colleges even in empowering programmes and we want our youths to key into it and drop their guns”.
He warned traditional rulers to remain in their domain to lead their people and the people, to go about their engagements.
“Youths cannot take over leadership of the community by force. That is what we have started seeing in our communities and this again, will be a warning to all of our traditional rulers, they must stay at home to lead the people and any traditional ruler that is not found in his base, I will promptly remove that traditional ruler.
“The military has cooperated and they told me that you can go about your normal business, they will not hurt innocent people and I am sure that from when that incident happened until today, at least we are beginning to have total freedom in Igbomotoro Community.
“Please go about your normal business as we will continue to engage the federal government and the military high command so that this incident will be brought to a permanent rest, but those who killed must be brought to book.
Recall that 17 military personnel were murdered March 14, 2024 in Okuama, Delta State by yet to be identified persons.
