The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has raised serious concerns over the alleged military invasion of the Igbomotoru 2 community in Bayelsa State, which they claim has led to starvation and a hostage situation for all community members.
The council’s statement comes in the wake of reports of the killing of approximately 16 soldiers and officers in the Okuoma Community of Delta State over the past weekend. However, the IYC clarified that Okuoma is not associated with Bayelsa State and emphasized that the incident involving the slain military personnel did not occur within Ijaw territory.
The council said: “We as a council condemn in its totality the killing of military personnel on official peacekeeping assignment at Okuama Community in Delta State.
“This incident is devilish and inhuman and therefore, no sane minded person can support such an act in any guise.
“As we speak, the fears of our people have shown up again as the said Okuama Community has been completely burnt down and all the occupants made homeless, and are now refugees in neighbouring communities.
“We will also draw your attention to the onslaught going on in one of our Ijaw communities in Bayelsa State, Igbomotoru 2 in Bomo-Ibe Clan, where the Nigeria military evaded the community in early hours of Sunday, 17th March 2024.
“They opened fire on innocent men, women and children. They killed over 40 people and still counting, without any form of provocation.
“As a council, we condemn what the military is doing in Igbomotoru 2 community.
“What is happening in this community is purely a humanitarian crisis. As we speak, they have held every member of the community hostage, as there is no entry or exit to the community. People are now starving to death.”
In light of these developments, the IYC called for the intervention of President Bola Tinubu and the Chief of Defence Staff to restrain the military and address the situation in the affected communities.
The allegations by the Ijaw Youth Council underscore the urgency of addressing security concerns in the Niger Delta region to prevent further escalation of violence and humanitarian crises.
