The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), representing Ijaw youths globally, has voiced its concern over the alleged frequent invasions of Ijaw communities in the Niger Delta region and the arrest of their people.
This comes in the wake of the tragic incident in Okuama, Delta State, where 17 military personnel lost their lives.
The IYC has been alerted to the ongoing invasion, harassment, and arrest of Ijaw individuals in Nigeria. A notable incident occurred on April 8, 2024, at 3:30 am in Osokun, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State. Here, an esteemed Ijaw leader, Chief Sobomabo Jackrich, also known as Egberipapa, was arrested, and two of his associates were killed.
In a statement issued by the IYC spokesman, Binebia Princewill, he emphasized, “A point must be made known that the Ijaw people are not second-class citizens in this country.”
The statement further highlighted the significant sacrifices the Ijaw people have made towards the growth and development of the country. It stressed that they will not tolerate being treated as a conquered people by the Nigerian state.
Princewill stated, “In the last few months, Ijaw lands and her prominent leaders have been invaded, harassed, arrested, and embarrassed for whatever strange reasons by the military that the Ijaw people are yet to know.”
He detailed a distressing incident where military men stormed the Osokun residence of Amb. Sobomabo Jackrich in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State. Two individuals were killed during this incident, and Jackrich was arrested and taken to an unknown location.
“The IYC worldwide was inundated with distress calls from Ijaw youths all over the world on Wednesday on how military men with vans and Armoured Personnel Carrier stormed the Osokun Resident of Amb. Sobomabo Jackrich in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State wherein two persons were killed and Jackrich was arrested and taken to an unknown destination.” he said
Princewill asserted, “Nigeria is not a banana republic, Nigeria is a country governed by law, whatever we do must be within the ambit of the law. Those meant to protect the law must not be seen breaking the law.”
He expressed concern over the increasing number of Ijaw leaders and critical stakeholders who have been killed, harassed, and humiliated in recent weeks. The reasons behind these attacks and invasions remain unknown.
Princewill mentioned the arrest of Chief Tike Weris, former Chairman of Bayelsa Waterways Security, by the military at the Port Harcourt International Airport. There is currently no information about his whereabouts and safety. Rumors have circulated that he has been killed in custody, a claim that the IYC hopes is untrue.
“In a similar fashion, One Chief Tike Weris, former Chairman of Bayelsa Waterways Security was brazenly arrested by the military at the Port Harcourt International Airport and up till now, there is no single information about his whereabouts and safety. In fact, rumours have it that he has been killed in custody. We hope that this rumour is not true.
“While the Ijaw Youth Council will continue to champion peace movements in Nigeria and Niger Delta, we will not forget to draw our attention to certain events similar to the Okuama attack on the military in the North and the perceived response from the military. While we are not against fighting crime in Nigeria, we want this to be done within the ambit of the law,” he stated.
