N-DELTA: IYC PROTEST AGAINST INCESSANT ARRESTS, INTIMATION AND WITCH HUNTING OF IJAWS

•Calls for the immediate release of all Ijaws that are with security agents
•Vows to defend itself to resist further alleged unlawful arrests
•Says Ijaws cannot be defeated by a Fulani led Government.

WARRI – The Oil city of Warri in Delta State, particularly the Main market to NPA road was agog during the wee hours of today as the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC Western Zone, comprising Ondo, Edo and Delta State protest against the federal government on the alleged incessant arrests, intimidation and witch hunting of the Ijaws.

The Chairman of IYC, Western Zone, Comr. Freeborn Atigbi while addressing the media after the protest at NPA in Warri South Local Government Government Area of Delta State have called on President Mohammadu Buhari to immediately release all allegedly arrested Sons of Ijaws, describing their arrests as illegal and unlawful.

Atigbi also calls on the Ijaw Nation to defend itself by resisting any further alleged unlawful arrests, noting that the Ijaws have never been defeated by even the military government, stressing that it cannot be defeated by a Fulani led government.

He particularly tasked the federal government to live within the ambit of democracy, emphasising that the government should charge any suspects to court and not the incessant whisking away of Ijaw sons with their whereabouts unknown.

In his words: “We are not cowards, we have not been defeated by even the military government hence we cannot be defeated by a Fulani led government, Buhari is pushing us to the World, he should stop it henceforth hence we are going to resist any further arrests of our people by defending ourselves. ”

In his speech “The Ijaw Youth Council, Western Zone have gathered and we are on a peace match to send a very strong message to the Buhari led Federal government that we are seek and tired of the oppression meted out on the people of Niger Delta particularly the Ijaws.

“We believe we are operating democracy and democracy deals with the rule of law, if anyone has committed any crime against the state, such person or persons should be charged to court and the rules and regulations should be applied, our people should not be treated as cowards or slaves.

“Again our ex agitators and activists have also come under a severe attack by security agencies under Buhari’s watch with incessant arrests, they have not been charged to court and whereabouts still unknown, we don’t even know the crimes that they have committed to warrant such arrests and we felt this is unbecoming, notable examples includes Gen. Bonana-Owei  Godday Smith, aka King of the Forest; Comr. Daniel Ezekiel; Gen. Aboy Muturu Ebimene Monday; Victor Ozubu; Endy; Tonne Miemene-Iye; Peremo, the names are too numerous to mention, this is democracy and the rule of law must be operational.” Atigbi stated.

Speaking to Gbaramatu Voice Newspaper , Comr. Esther Ukulor, Treasurer, Western Zone IYC on her part have called on President Mohammadu Buhari to quickly unfreeze the accounts of Patience Jonathan, wondering why Mrs. Jonathan as a former First Lady of Nigeria would be singled out for persecution, noting that despite the massive looting of previous administrations particularly the Abacha’s unfathomable looting, no harassment was meted out on the family of the Abacha but instead the Nigerian Government have allegedly approved a private University to compensate Mrs. Abacha .

“Please live our mama alone, she is not the only first lady that Nigeria has, this is a clear case of oppression ” Ukulor asserted.

On the Aladja, Isaba and Ogbe-Ijoh reincarnating lingering crises, the Vice Chairman of the Zone, Comr. Preye Koremone in a similar manner have called on His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Delta State, Senator. Dr. Ifeanyin Arthur Okowa to implement his decision to raise any community down by the military.

Koremene condemned the arrest of the Isaba and Ogbe-Ijoh community executives, wondering why they should be arrested when the people of Aladja have beheaded a son of Isaba Community, Mr. Gabriel Sibe.

“I don’t want to believe that the Okowa led Government is also towing the path of the federal government by selectively witch hunting the Ijaws, I am afraid that our state governor is also replicating same in the State by attacking the Ijaws ” Preye alleges.

Some of the placards bandied by the protesters has different inscriptions such as “Enough is Enough, Federal Govt. Stop the intimidation and harassment of Ijaw People; Buhari, EFCC & Security Agencies, leave Niger Delta ex agitators alone ; FG, stop harassing Jonathan’s family; FG, release our brothers from unlawful detention.