-Avengers is not a community-based organization
-Tompolo’s antecedents is not connected to the Avengers – IYC
-Peaceful response by the FG is panacea – Oweilaemi
The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has called on the Federal Government not to use Gbararmatu Kingdom or any other area in the Niger Delta region as a battlefield in the name of hunting for the members of Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) who recently threatened to resume hostilities.
Barr. Roland Pereotubo Oweilaemi led IYC made this in a chat with GbaramatuVoice.
According to the group, “NDA should not be linked to a particular community or kingdom in the Niger Delta as the Avengers is not a community-based organization.”
Pereotubo queried why the military flew helicopter gunships around Oporoza town in Gbaramatu Kingdom on Tuesday 7th November 2017.
While posing a rhetoric, the Barrister turned activist, asked, “Did the Avengers say that they are in Gbaramatu Kingdom?”
IYC, therefore, pointed out that the Ijaw nation is not comfortable with the steps the military is trying to take.
Continuing, the IYC president explained that this act of using a general problem in the Niger Delta to terrorize innocent people in one community or kingdom should stop now.
Pereotubo further told GbaramatuVoice that Ijaw nation will not fold its hands and allow the Nigerian government to be invading and burning down our communities in the guise of fighting militants while innocent souls suffer.
IYC in the same vein explained that Tompolo’s antecedents is not connected to the Avengers as far as they are concerned.
“If he was the reason why the military decided to invade the innocent kingdom, he has publicly denied being a member of the group.
IYC further explained that if NDA has also absolved him of complicity, “why then is the government dragging Tompolo into the present crisis?” he queried.
Pereotubo therefore, warned that those self-seeking individuals who want to drag Tompolo’s name in the mud should be wary of their actions while adding that he, Tompolo, has had enough persecution in the hands of the ruling government already.
Barr. Pereotubo hence advised President Buhari not to make the mistake of sending troops to invade the Niger Delta communities.
IYC also called on those who advised the government to apply force to have a rethink about the economy while pointing out that force will only aggravate the situation.
The IYC president finally told GbaramatuVoice that only peaceful response to the demands of the people will avert the threatened attacks on oil facilities by the militants.
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