War on militants: Ijaw group tells Buhari to withdraw troops
- The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has rejected the use of force against restive youths in the Niger Delta region
- President of the INC, Boma Obuoforibo, faults calls by those advocating for the Boko Haram approach against the restive youths
- Warns that such approach would aggravate the crisis in the Niger Delta region
The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has warned President Buhari against the deployment of troops in combating restive youths in the Niger Delta region.
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The Nation reports that the INC, a socio-cultural organisation of the Ijaw ethnic nationality in the Niger Delta, advocated that dialogue remains the best option for a peaceful resolution of the Niger Delta crisis.
The INC speaking on the backdrop of the recently launched military campaign, “Operation Crocodile Smile”, which has seen massive deployment of troops to the Niger Delta region, rejected the use of force against restive youths.
President of the group, Boma Obuoforibo, faulted calls by those advocating for the Boko Haram approach against restive youths.
Obuoforibo, during a press briefing in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, on Sunday, September 11, said Niger Delta youths’ demand for equity, fairness and justice, could not be termed terrorism.
He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to disregard the calls for military campaign against the restive youths, warning that such approach would aggravate the crisis in the region.
He said: "The Federal Government cannot use the same Boko Haram approach against our youths; we disagree with that. The use of force is unnecessary because the leadership of INC is engaging the restive youths at various levels to embrace peace.
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“One major reason the Niger Delta crisis has lingered on without any meaningful solution is insincerity on the part of the successive governments and the operators of the oil sector. We are calling on President Buhari not to listen to the call of adoption of military force in the region.”
Meanwhile, six persons have been arrested for oil theft within the Escravos axis of Delta state, the Nigerian Navy made the arrest on Wednesday, September 7.
The Director of Information of the Nigerian Navy, Commodore Christian Ezekobe, said in a statement on Saturday, September 10, that six of the suspects were arrested during a raid by a team from the Operations Base, Escravos at Sara Creek, Delta state.
He said the patrol team destroyed three ‘Cotonou boats’ laden with stolen crude oil.
Source: Legit.ng
