By Austin Ogwuda
THE Ijaw National Congress, INC says it is unacceptable for the Federal Government to deploy its military might to militarise the entire Ijaw nationality on account of one isolated case.
It also dismissed the speculation to the effect that the Ijaw youths were planning to launch attacks on the Security and oil installations.
This was contained in a Press Statement issued Sunday and signed by the National President, Ijaw National Congress INC, Prof. Benjamin Okaba.
The statement entitled ‘ENOUGH BLOOD ON THE NIGER/DELTA RIVER reads in full:
“The Ijaw National Congress, INC have made series of statements condemning the senseless, brutal and cold blooded killing of military officers perforing their legitimate duties in Delta State. No reasonable, right thinking, rational person can support such heinous act. The killings can not be justified under any guise. It was seriously condemned by the INC as thoughtless and it remains eternally condemned!
“Inasmuch, as INC condemns the killing of military officers, the congress is conscious of the fact that Nigeria is a constitutional democracy, governed by Laws. It is therefore the unalloyed position of the INC that those that are found culpable in the heinous killings should be apprehended, properly investigated and subjected to the dictates of the Law, applying the rich and strong Nigeria strong criminal justice system.
“The INC is therefore unequivocal in her demand that no matter how emotional we feel about this gruesome incident, the Law should be allowed to take its course.
“The INC does not see any justification for a situation where both the innocent and guilty should be subjected to same treatment. This acts is against natural justice and an escapist way of solving a complex problem.
“It also imperative to state here that the INC is privy to some false information circulating in the security circles that ljaw youths are planning attacks on security and oil installations.
“The INC received this information with a pinch of salt and therefore appeal that this information should be dismissed as wicked, malicious and falsehood generated by evil, indeed disgruntled people with the intent of causing more trouble and unwarranted crises in ljaw land and by extension,the Nigeria Delta region.
“These false informants and crises merchant should be properly investigated, as they truly the real enemies of the State.
“The Ijaw ethnic nationality is not at war with the Federal Government or any other ethnic nationality. It is therefore totally unacceptable to the INC for one isolated case to be used to militarise or militarily muscle the whole of the ljaw geography in Nigeria.
Prof. Benjamin O. Okaba,
President,
Ijaw National Congress.