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IJAW SEA PIRATES MASSACRE OVER 35 ITSEKIRIS IN BROAD DAY LIGHT By ITSEKIRI NATIONAL YOUTH COUNCIL (INYC) NO. 90 AJAMIMOGHA ROAD WARRI- DELTA STATE
PRESS STATEMENT When will this genocide and ethnic cleansing perpetuated against the Itsekiris by the militias of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) come to an end? Could humanity remain so callous and unendingly turn blind eyes to this unending massacre of Itsekiris by the Ijaws ? On Sunday, October 5, 2003, over 29 Itsekiris and Ilajes voyaging from Awoye in Ondo State to Escravos in Delta State were massacred. We informed the people and governments in Nigerian. It was business as usual with no step put in place to prevent a further reoccurrence. Such usual pattern of quietism on the side of government ( for whatever reason since 1997) when the Ijaws began their ethnic cleansing policies against the Itsekiris has always encourage the Ijaws to do the killings with reckless abandon.
In the late morning of today Tuesday 21, October, (before noon ) the Ijaw pirates has again struck with unparalleled brutality at Orugbo in Warri South Local Government Area. Eight hand paddled boats conveying not less than 50 Itsekiris from Warri to Ode-Itsekiri and Orugbo were attacked in Warri River and all sunk. Many of the occupants who were swimming to safety were either shot or speared to death by the sea pirates.
When the news got to Orugbo and Ode-Itsekiri, a combined rescue team of young men using hand paddled dug out boats were dispatched to rescue those who might have escaped and swarm into the mangrove swamp. This rescue team went without knowing that the pirates had hidden themselves in the mangrove. The rescue team were again attacked and their boats destroyed with some of them killed.
The Ijaw pirates again using 4 speed boats moved into Ode-Itsekiri shooting indiscriminately. They left with 4 aged women who could not escape into the bush and also took along with then fishing boats and nets.
As at 6 pm today we have confirmed the death of about 35 persons with umpteen still marooned in the mangrove with no hope of their being rescued.
We appeal to the Nigerian Navy to immediately embark on a 24 hour patrol of the waterways around Warri. We call on the Federal Government to take all necessary steps to stop this relentless genocide against the Itsekiris, moreso that the complicity of the Delta State Government has become so apparent. If nothing is done, and urgently too, the Ijaws will cause the extinction of the Itsekiri Nation. Civilize humanity save us!. As further information becomes available, we shall not hesitate to inform. Matthew Tsekure (Mr) Chairman, Publicity Sub Committee
October 2003
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