Okuama Killings: Group Calls For Humanitarian Emergency, Alleged Over Fifty People Missing in Bayelsa Community
Nelson Chidiebere, Port Harcourt
A group known as the Niger Delta Peoples Movements(NDPM) has called for the intervention of International Organizations following an alleged military invasion in Igbomotoru Community in Southern Ijaw Council of Bayelsa state, saying over fifty people are missing and food supplies shutdown.
The group, in a statement jointly signed by the Convener and International President, Ejiro Ineneji, and Iyamu Okunzuwa, respectively, in Port Harcourt lamented that the situation has become a humanitarian emergency, saying their homes and source of livelihood has been shut down following the military presence in the community.
Recall that on March 21, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, said troops will be professional and not be cowed in the discharge of their duties as they comb communities trying to recover arms carted away from the slain the soldiers.
But the group alleged that there was a reprisal attack on Igbomotoru Community by the Nigerian military on the excuse of hunting a character linked to the killing of the military in the Delta State community Okuama, insisting that the Igbomotoru community in Bayelsa State does not have any affiliations with the Okuama community in Delta State.
They, however, condemned the March 14 incident where a Lieutenant Colonel, two Major, and 12 soldiers were murdered in Okuama in Ugheli South Council of Delta State, describing it as senseless, provocative, and disrespectful to the Nigerian State
They appealed to the Federal government to evaluate the actions of the military and provide succor to the innocent lives that are refugees due to present realities and circumstances, just as they urged residents to respect the integrity of the military, stressing that they put their lives on the line to keep the region and country safe and habitable.
The statement reads: “We appeal to the Nigeria military apparatus and the federal government to be cautious in carrying out investigations without sacking innocent communities from their homes and source of livelihood in this very harsh economic realities in Nigeria.
“They urged the military not to cast caution to the wind and repeat a tragic history of Odi community massacre as that would amount to genocide.
“The movement also condemns the reprisal attack on the defenseless Igbomotoru Community by the Nigerian military as alleged, on the excuse of hunting a character linked to the killing of the military in the Delta State community Okuma.
“We hereby call on international bodies to intervene as over fifty lives, according to Intelligence, have been allegedly lost in the community and food supplies shutdown. This has become a humanitarian emergency; and, that the Igbomotoru community in Bayelsa State does not have any affiliations whatsoever with the said Okuama community in Delta State. ”
