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THE IJAWS AND THE UNENDING BLOODSHED IN WARRI
PRESS STATEMENT The relative peace enjoyed in Warri metropolis since the beginning of the year was early yesterday morning shattered when the militias of the Ijaw National Congress and Ijaw Youths Council went on rampage to the extent of attacking members of ‘Operation restore Hope’. In the process, lives have been lost and properties mostly houses belonging to Itsekiris but forcefully seized and occupied by the Ijaws since 1997 were burnt down. But for how long will this continue; specifically with the Itsekiris as the sacrificial lamp?
Given the extent to which the Ijaws have gone in genocidal mission against the Itsekiris and at the same time remain unchecked by both the State and Federal governments, we are now tempted to ask if there is no interest (at least) that the Ijaws are serving and same protecting them? When these Ijaw militias massacre Itsekiris; they go Scot free and untouched. In the same vein, when they kill or abduct men in uniform; they are never arrested nor call to order. This is most unfortunate and a national tragedy!
It is within the above that we can understand why Governor Ibori of Delta State has refused to dislodge the Ijaws from the houses belonging to the Itsekiris which they forcefully occupied since 1997. It is increasingly becoming clear that both the State and Federal governments have been encouraging the Ijaws through their apparent inaction.
For example, the Delta state government in its usual attempt to satisfy the Ijaws is insisting that it will deny the Itsekiris the opportunity of participating in the proposed March 29, local government elections. We are convinced that that the Delta State government must have encouraged the Ijaws to create this latest unnecessary tension and blood letting so as to justify its proposed action of de-enfranchising the Itsekiris because the Ijaws want it done. But this we are prepared to resist within the bounds of law.
Within the above context of governments in Nigeria ever trying to perpetuate and sustain crises, the federal government has refused to release its white paper on the Danjuma Committee on the Warri Crises. The reason for this delay is inexplicable and most immoral. If the federal government is interested in ending this crises, it must immediately release the ‘White Paper on the Danjuma Committee’
Given the extent to which the Ijaws have been left by governments at both the State and Federal levels to indiscriminately wreck havoc and kill at will, it is clear that this barbarism will continue unabated except government is prepared to take all necessary measure to put a stop to. Ijaws’ barbarism.
We here call on the Federal government to take all necessary steps to get the military better equipped, or else the Ijaws will make Warri inhabitable in view of the weapons at their disposal, more so that they have no stake in Warri were they do not have a single ward. UNENDING IJAW GENOCIDE AND ETHNIC CLEANSING AGAINST THE ITSEKIRIS ITSEKIRI NATIONAL YOUTH COUNCIL 94 AJAMIMOGHA ROAD WARRI-DELTA STATE Email-itsekiri_youths@yahoo.co.uk Matthew Itsekure Chairman, Pub. Sub Committee March 2004
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