Ijaw Youth Council,
IYC Western Zone, comprising Ondo, Edo and Delta State staged a protest on the
streets of Warri, Delta state against what they described as the federal
government 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 area of Delta State, called on President
Mohammadu Buhari to release all allegedly arrested sons of Ijaws, describing
their arrests as illegal and unlawful.
He also called 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.
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. ”
“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 sick and tired
of the oppression meted out on the people of Niger Delta particularly the
Ijaws.
“Since he took over
the mantle of leadership it is as if the Niger Delta and her people are
conquered people, we did not go into war with the Buhari led government, there
was an election and our brother Dr. Goodluck Jonathan lost and peacefully he
transited power to Buhari without any conflict of interest, since his exit from
office, Buhari has been witch hunting the family of Goodluck Jonathan, his wife
has been under constant attack by security agents particularly the EFCC, DSS,
their homes at various times have been invaded by security agencies for various
reasons Nigerians do not know, their accounts and family accounts have been
frozen.
“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 severe attacks 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.”


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