“Buhari should wake up and call Obasanjo, Jonathan to stop Niger Delta militants”
– The Ijaw youths reacted to the use of fighter jets by the Nigerian army in Niger Delta region
– The group advised Buhari to wake up and dialogue with the militants
The Nigerian army was said to have disguised in different manners to invade the communities, amongst them Benikrukru, Kokodiagbene, Kurutie and Okerenkoko, all in Warri South West Council.
The JTF urged the various communities invaded to produce the militants and vandals.
There was tension in Bayelsa state as local residents spotted that the soldiers are using the fighter jets for the hunt on militants.
READ ALSO: Nigerian army invades the town of Tompolo’s father, harrasses locals
However, in a quick reaction, the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) have criticised the presence of the fighter jets in the creeks.
Udens Eradiri, the president of the council, said the tactic of intimidation will have no positive result.
Eradiri said: “Ijaw people are peaceful people. Ijaw people are not avengers. These jets flying around Yenagoa and Gbaramatu, the avengers are not in these places. We just hope that they were just passing. But if it is hovering around, it means that something is about to happen.
“The military should use more of intelligence so that you don’t go around destroying communities. We call on the military to withdraw its tactic of intimidation in Ijaw land.
“Jet fighters will not solve the problem. The economy is in a terrible forecast and we must do everything to save it. We are at the receiving end of the activities of these militants. Why are we also being intimidated”.
He further urged President Muhammadu Buhari to review his government’s stand on its continuous issuance of threat and using army might against the militants, rather it should go to the creeks and dialogue with them.
READ ALSO: Ijaw people beg President Buhari as Nigerian army issues ultimatum
Comrade Eradiri added that the continuous use of the army in the region has led to the regular bombing of oil installations in the Niger Delta and that it is making the country to be losing a huge sum of money on a daily basis.
He said: “I think the president must wake up. He must take the bull by the horn. Obasanjo started Coaster Meetings when the situation was terrible, he did not send anybody, he called everybody. Yar’Adua woke up from sick bed, he did not call anybody. The president needs to get up.”
The Nigerian troops had arrested 10 suspected members of the Niger Delta Avengers during the search for the militants.
The army had carried out aerial bombardment in Oporoza in 2009 while searching for ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo.
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