In a shocking turn of events, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has accused the military of a deadly invasion in Igbomotoru 2, Bomo-Ibe Clan of Bayelsa State. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday, March 17, 2024, reportedly claimed the lives of 40 individuals.
The military operation was allegedly a response to the recent killings of military personnel in Okuama Community, Delta State. However, the IYC maintains that Okuama is not a community in Bayelsa State. The council’s president, Alaye Theophilus, emphasized that the killing of the military personnel did not occur in Ijaw land and has nothing to do with the Ijaw nation.
The council has set up an investigation and fact-finding team, which is open to supporting the military and other security agencies to get to the root cause of the matter. The council pleaded that while fishing out the killers, the whole community should not be destroyed because of the actions of a few individuals.
The IYC expressed concern about the stability and business-friendly environment of the oil-rich Niger Delta region. The council noted that when an individual does something bad to military men operating in the region, the reprisal from the military is always against the entire community.
The council further noted that the fears of their people have shown up again as the said Okuama Community has been completely burnt down and all the occupants made homeless. They are now refugees in neighboring communities.
The council condemned what the military is doing in Igbomotoru 2 community. They described the incident as a humanitarian crisis. The military reportedly opened fire on innocent men, women, and children.
The IYC called on the President Bola Tinubu and the chief of defense staff to call the military to order. The council said as the largest ethnic block in the Niger Delta region, it was concerned about the stability and business-friendly environment of the oil-rich region.
The Bayelsa bloodshed raises a critical question: How can the military ensure justice for the slain soldiers without causing harm to innocent civilians?.