Embasara Foundation, a socio-political Ijaw group, on Monday, said the spate of senseless killings recorded across Ijaw communities in Bayelsa and Rivers States during the Presidential and National Assembly elections were disturbing.
The Group said the presidential directive to shoot ballot box snatchers on the day of election had escalated the large-scale occurrence of killings, pointing out that unless the order was withdrawn there might be more election-related killings in Ijawland.
Dr. Ayakeme Whiskey, Spokesman of the Embasara Foundation, told reporters during a press conference in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, stated that daylight murders especially in Abonnema and Oweikorogha communities in Rivers and Bayelsa had cast a shadow of grief and angst in Ijawland.
His words, “We have it on good authority that the primary cause of this ugly episode in our Ijawland was the reckless infiltration of Abonnema community with political thugs, aided by the military to gain advantage during the presidential elections of February 23, 2019.
“The aftermath of that thoughtless act was the killing of innocent Ijaw boys, some of whom took laws into their hands to engage the military in armed confrontation that led to the death of an army lieutenant.
“The soldiers then went on a reckless rampage and killed scores of Ijaw youths in retaliation. This is incomprehensible and totally condemnable.
“If it is true that the latest purported siege and heightens tension in Abonnema since March 2 was on account of the killing of two soldiers by unidentified persons who were purportedly on military camouflage, over the destruction of an illegal bunker in site, it is the most audacious criminal act.
“As responsible people, we unequivocally condemn the act of killing agents of government who were merely discharging their legitimate duty. His unfortunate callous act has now brought untold apprehension, tension and unease to innocent women, children and men of Abonnema community.
“We also condemn the recourse to killings of innocent lives that are ordinarily presumed sacred in the name of politics and elections.
“When did the deployment of the military to kill and maim innocent civilians, deprive them the exercise of their franchise by those appointed into positions become part of the political culture in Ijawland? Taking of lives in whatever form or guise is sacrilegious; it is an unacceptable and abominable act.
“Therefore, all those who are directly or indirectly responsible for the heinous acts perpetrated in Abonnema and other Ijaw communities shall bear the full wrath of it’d effect.
“It is also being strongly speculated that the families of late Dr. Seidougha and Dei Reginald of Oweikorogha community in Southern LGA, Bayelsa, who were gruesomely murdered in cold blood are planning a reprisal attack on the APC leader who was alleged to have masterminded the killings. This must be nipped in the bud before it escalate out of control
“We are gravely appalled at the unrestricted importation and stockpile of arms in Ijaw communities. No individual’s ambition is ever worth the blood of anybody.
“As a group, we are deeply worried and concerned going forward. Except there is an urgent intervention by the Federal Government headed by President Buhari and retraction of the presidential order ‘to shoot ballot box snatchers,’ we cannot guarantee that there would not be more election related killings in Ijawland.
“As we speak, nobody is can predict the scale of extra judicial killings the Ijawland could witness in the name of chasing political thugs if President Buhari doesn’t act swiftly. Ijawland cannot and shall not accept further bloodletting and killings.”
The group, therefore, urged Ijaw leaders to close rank and stem the political violence in Ijaw communities of Rivers and Bayelsa.
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