The apex youth body of Ijaw youths, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), yesterday condemned what it called the inhuman military invasion of Ajakpa community in Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State by the Army.
In a statement by the National Spokesperson of Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide, Mr Henry Iyalla, IYC warned the military to stop further actions that may result in terrorising, killing and destroying property of law-abiding residents of the community.
On May 1, troops of Operation Delta Safe (ODS) celebrated the killing of a suspected militant, Ossy Ibori, and the destabilisation of his gang, believed to be responsible for terrorising parts of the Niger Delta.
But IYC said it was surprised when the military extended its operations to those it called innocent residents of Ajapa community.
The statement reads: “We condemn attacks on innocent residents of Ajakpa community by the same military saddled with the responsibility of protecting their lives and property. We also sympathise with the military on the loss of some soldiers.
“We call on them to stop further actions aimed at terrorising, maiming, killing and destroying property of law-abiding citizens of Ajakpa community, especially women and children who are badly hit by the wake of recent bombings of the community.
“The efforts to arrest criminals should be separated from attacks on innocent people. Forcefully displacing a people from their homes is not the way to go in tackling safety in the region. Report reaching us from a community shows that in the past four days, the people of Ajakpa community have been denied access to their homes, water and food.”
IYC said women and children were dying of starvation and diseases, adding: “Women are being raped and sexually harassed. For four days, the people of Ajakpa community have being living in the bush in dire conditions.”