The Ijaw Youth Council, has verified floating corpses in nun river, Bayelsa State, few days after two Major Generals, a Captain and 12 soldiers by irate youths in Delta State.
Nun river was formed when the Niger River splits into two at Toru-Abubou, near Agbere town in Sagbama Local government Area of Bayelsa State.
The slain personnel whose decapitated bodies had been recovered by the military, were on a rescue mission in Okuoma Community in Ughelli South Local government Area of the State on Thursday March 14, according to a statement by Acting Director, Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau.
The National President of IYC, Jonathan Lokpobiri said on Arise Television interview on Tuesday March 19.
He condemned the killings in ambush, but warned against reprisal attacks and razing of houses in the area by yet-to-be identified persons, but the military dismissed as social Media propaganda.
Yet, Lokpobiri who wondered why the military had to extend its operation to Bayelsa State, alleging that IYC has photographs of corpses floating in nun river, a claim TheNewspad cannot immediately verify.
He said, “As I speak to you, a lot of dead bodies are floating on river nun, on account of the search for criminals perhaps who might have played a role in those crises.
“A lot of innocent women who will not have the capacity to run or escape are still in the bush. Dead bodies have been found in these Communities. The women are not even allowed to leave their homes.
“While I sympathize with the soldiers’ families and Nigerian government, the military must evolve measures targeted at arrest of criminals rather than punishing an entire Communities for crimes that the entire Communities do not agree to. These are not collective, but individual crimes”, Lokpobiri said.
According to him, “Beyond that criminality of a few, we are quite concerned about the method employed by the military in search for these criminals who have carried out this heinous crime against the Nigerian military and Nigeria itself.
“Part of the reasons why we are concerned is that the civilian casualties is getting to an unprecedented level, especially in Bayelsa State.
“Every Community that is suffering under the yoke of this military occupation or invasion is Nigerians that are suffering.
“As leaders of our people, we do not subscribe to the violent crimes against the State, which is highly condemnable.
“But our take on it is that Nigeria with a professional military to evolve means of targeting criminals in our Communities rather than razing the entire Communities in Delta State on account of pursuing criminals.
“What is happening today in Bayelsa State from an incident that happened on Okuoma Community – an Urhobo Community in Delta State is having the greatest impact Community called Egbomotoro II in Bayelsa State.
“The military perhaps will tell Nigerians the nexus or what happened in Okuoma Community and how our people in Bayelsa get punished for what has happened in Okuoma Community.
“Even if there is a nexus between these Communities, those who played a part on this dastardly act, should be punished.
“The world has evolved where technology could be deployed in the search for criminals rather than wiping off a whole Community who have nothing to do in these Communities who live among the criminals”, the IYC national President.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu on Sunday March 18, granted full authority to the Defence Headquarters and Chief of Defence Staff to hunt killers of the military personnel attached to the Nigerian Army troops of 181 Amphibious Batallion in Delta State.
I condemn it in absolute terms. We use this medium to condemn the act of killing and mutilation of military officers who were on a peace mission to resolving conflicts in two Communities.
It’s an act that we cannot by any means forgive. It’s an unpardonable offence that were committed against these soldiers.
But, beyond that criminality of a few, we are quite concerned about the method employed by the military in search for these criminals who have carried out this heinous crime against the Nigerian military and Nigeria itself.
Part of the reasons why we are comcerned is that the civilian casualties is getting to an unprecedented level, especially in Bayelsa State. Every Community that is suffering under the yoke of this military occupation or invasion is Nigerians that are suffering.
As leaders of our people, we do not subscribe to the violent crimes against the State, which is condemned in the highest terms.
But our take on it is that Nigeria with a professional military to evolve means of targeting criminals in our Communities rather than razing the entire Communities in Delta State on account of pursuing criminals.
What is happening today in Bayelsa State from an incident that happened on Okuoma Community – an Urhobo Community in Delta State is having the greatest impact Community called Egbomotoro II in Bayelsa State.
The military perhaps will tell Nigerians the nexus or what happened in Okuoma Community and how our people in Bayelsa get punished for what has happened in Okuoma Community. Even if there is a nexus between these Communities, those who played a part on this dastardly act, should be punished. The world has evolved where technology could be deployed in the search for criminals rather than wiping off a whole Community who have nothing to do in these Communities who live among the criminals.
***”As I speak to you, a lot of dead bodies are floating on river nun, on account of the search for criminals perhaps who might have played a role in those crisis. A lot of innocent women who will not have the capacity to run or escape are still in the bush. Dead bodies have been found in these Communities. The women are not even allowed to leave their homes. While I sympathize with the soldiers families and Nigerian government, the military must evolve measures targeted arrest of criminals rather than punishing an entire Communities for crimes that the entire Communities do not agree to. These are not collective, but individual crimes.
There is no Community in Nigeria that does not have misguided youths or criminals. But, all of these Communities do not have to go down in the search for criminals.
Leave a Reply