The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide
has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to call security agents to order
following the indiscriminate arrests of Ijaw and other Niger Delta
youths.
In a statement by Eric Omare, the IYC
spokesman, the group advised the federal government not to use the
renewed militancy in the Niger Delta as a political tool to arrest and
silence opposing voices in the Niger Delta region, NAIJ.com reports.
The IYC wonders why it has become an
offence to express ones support for a cause through the social media,
adding that President Buhari was one of the greatest beneficiaries of
the social media during the last presidential election.
“The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide
call on security agents of the federal government of Nigeria to stop
the indiscriminate arrest of Ijaw and Niger Delta youths under the guise
of fighting renewed militancy in the Niger Delta region.
“In recent times, there have been
indiscriminate arrests of Ijaw and other Niger Delta youths by security
agents without charging any of them to court.
“So far security agents have arrested
Ijaw youths such as Mr. Simeon Bebenimino, Bomboy Oluba, Aboy Muturu,
the Oporoza 10 and several others.
“The latest of the victims of this
indiscriminate arrest is Comrade Daniel Ezekiel, an Ijaw youth from
Egebma Clan in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta.
“Daniel Ezekiel, who is the Spokesperson
of a Niger Delta based civil society organization, the Ijaw Peoples’
Development Initiative (IPDI) was arrested/abducted on Thursday, August
4, 2016 while on his way from Sapele to Warri in Delta State.
“Up to the time of issuing this
statement, the where about of Mr. Daniel Ezekiel is unknown. In the
days leading to the arrest/abduction of Mr. Ezekiel, he complained of
threats to his life by some persons who claimed to be working for the
federal government and security agencies in the Niger Delta.
“Daniel Ezekiel is a passionate believer
in the Niger Delta cause and like several young Nigerians has actively
used the social media in articulating the Niger Delta cause.
“The IYC wonders when it has become an offence to express one’s support for a cause through the social media.
“After all President Buhari is one of
the greatest beneficiaries of the social media during the last
presidential election; so why the clampdown on those who expresses
dissent to his administration through the same medium?
“The IYC wishes to strongly advise the
federal government and agents of the federal government including party
chieftains not to use the renewed militancy in the Niger Delta as a
political tool to arrest and silence opposing voices in the Niger Delta
region.
“There are indications that more
opposing voices in the Niger Delta may be arrested in the days ahead on
the instigation of some politicians to settle political scores.
“We call on President Buhari to call the
security agencies to order as indiscriminate arrest of Niger Deltans
especially those expressing dissent to the administration’s approach to
issue affecting the region would not do him any good.
“We reiterate our call for those under
arrest to be charged to a court of competent jurisdiction in line with
the rule of law or be released without delay,” the statement said.
The IYC had earlier advised President
Buhari to look for Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) within his government.
Udengs Eradiri, the president of the group, revealed this to the press
at the headquarters of the council in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state.
He also lamented endless linkage of avengers and criminals in Lagos state to Ijaw people.
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