The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) on Tuesday advised the
military to carry out its operations with restraint and avoid molesting innocent
people in search of criminals Foropa community in Bayelsa.
The advice is sequel to ongoing military operations on
suspected hideouts used by criminals being burnt down by soldiers on the trail
of hoodlums.
The IYC said that reports of attack by the military on
Foropa, a coastline settlement by the Atlantic coastline in Southern Ijaw Local
Government Area when the people were battling with the COVID-19 pandemic was
regrettable.
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The youth group in a
statement issued by Kennedy Olorogun, Frank Akiefa.
Chairman and Secretary
of IYC National Transition Committee respectively frowned at violence on
innocent members of the settlements.
According to the statement, while the IYC, the military
should carry out its operations without infringing on the human rights of law
abiding members of the communities.
“The IYC leadership laments the
plight and trauma of military invasion on the predominantly law abiding people.
“These are trying times, there is
serious hunger in the land as a result of the global corona virus pandemic.
“Fishes in our coastal areas are
dying in very large numbers and there is imminent danger of extinction due to
suspected pollution of the Atlantic within Ijaw settlement by dumping toxic
chemicals by oil firms..
“As if these are not enough, the
military is also unprofessionally attacking our communities. These is no
justification for attacks and violence on innocent people.
“The leadership of Foropa community
has pledged to cooperate with the military in fishing out suspects to face
prosecution, the innocent must be isolated from violent molestation.
“No matter the gravity of offence committed by
suspects from Fropa they should be arrested and prosecuted in line with extant
laws, the military cannot be persecutor and judge.
“The IYC does not warrant such
uncivilized display by the Nigeria military..
“We request putting to an end these menace of
steady attack on Ijaw settlements and urge Federal Govt to come to the aide of
Fropa people whose houses have been burned down,” The IYC stated.
When contacted for comments, sources
at the Joint Task Force (JTF) Headuarters in the Niger Delta in Yenagoa said
that only the Director of Defense Media Operations can comment and advised the
reporter to contact the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
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