The Ijaw Youth Council worldwide, has raised an alarm over the strange movements of suspected herdsmen in some riverine communities in the Niger Delta region, warning indigenes of the Ijaw communities to be on red alert to avoid a repeat of the violent killings in Owo, Ondo state.
The IYC who made this known in Yenagoa on Monday through its national spokesman, Ebilade Ekerefe, stated that intelligence report available to the council revealed that the movement of strange men under the guise of Fulani herdsmen and non-indigenes is making indigenes of the communities in the region uncomfortable.
Ekerefe said the movement may have arisen because of the tight security architecture in Rivers and Delta states.
He said ,” We want to call on Ijaw youths to be on red alert and not allow a repeat of the gory killing in Owo in Ondo state. We have observed some strange movements and are not comfortable. We are also calling on security agencies to be on red alert and protect the lives of the people. We also call on non-indigenes residing in Ijaw communities to be vigilant and not allow unlawful individuals to infiltrate their midst to perpetuate evil in Ijaw Land.
Condemning the recent church killings in Owo, Ondo State, he called on the presidential standard bearers of the various political parties to take note that the Ijaw nation, which is the 4th largest ethnic nationality in the country, will only support a political party and its candidate with sincere focus on true federalism, restructuring, review of revenue sharing formular and others.
The IYC also urged the political parties and their standard flag bearers to have special consideration for youthful running mates for the position of Vice President adding “While the search for the choice of running mates is ongoing, we urge the existing political parties and their standard flag bearers to embrace a running mate between the ages of 50years and below. A running mate that has the acceptance of millions of youths in the country. A detribalized youth that is competent no matter the religious beliefs.
He warned that the Ijaws have held the existing peace in the region of Niger Delta, not because the present administration performed, but because “We are disappointed with the president Buhari administration and could not wait for the abysmal tenure to end adding that he played a deaf hear to issues of development in the Niger Delta and for over seven years, he has never considered it important to set up a substantive board for the NDDC.
On the continued incarceration of ex-militant leader, Farah Dagogo, the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) restated its call on Governor Nyesom Wike to immediately order his release and kick-start a process of reconciliation with his kinsman and standard bearer of the PDP in Rivers State.
