Brave Dickson
The Kalabari Clan of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has vowed to chase pirates out of the three local government areas of Kalabari ethnic nationality in Rivers State.
The decision was made in reaction to the recent abduction of eight boat passengers along the Kula/Abonnema water routes.
Confirming the decision to our correspondent, the IYC Chairman of Kalabari Clan, Ibinabo Omoni Jack warned pirates to desist from taking innocent people captive or risk being chased out of Kalabari territory.
“We condemn the recent abduction of eight boat passengers on our waterways and we ask the perpetrators to release their victims unconditionally and without delay.
“We are going to henceforth start combing our creeks to ensure that pirates and other criminals do not camp in our creeks, “he said
Jack also blamed security agents for the crimes in the area, adding that the security agents have refused to work with the youths to secure the area.
According to him, “IYC has written to the various law enforcement agencies to authorize the youths of the area to help provide surveillance security but the security apparatus of government has refused to approve our request.
“But we will not leave security in the hands of security agencies alone, we will go ahead to secure our environment against criminals.”
The youths also used the medium to alert security agencies not to categorize them as criminals when sighting them combating pirates in the creeks.