President of the Movement for the
Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Legborsi Pyagbara, has stated that
the resurgence of cult violence and destruction of lives and property
in most Ogoni communities, is a deliberate and direct attack on the
peace initiative and process by well- meaning groups and leaders of
Ogoni.
The MOSOP president made this remark
while responding to the latest report of deadly attacks on Opouko and
Luumene communities in Nyokhana district of Khana Local Government Area
of Rivers State.
The two communities came under cult
groups’ attack on Sunday, August 18, during which at least eight persons
were reportedly killed.
Six persons were allegedly killed in
Opouko and two in Luumene, while the residence of the Khana council
chairman, Lateh Loolooh, and palace of the Gbenemene Banghan, Chief
Suanu Baridam, were burnt down.
Pyagbara strongly bemoaned the killings and
destruction of property by those he said, did not want peace in Ogoni,
and were making efforts to put the area under siege.
“It seems to me that there is an
internal factor and interest in trying to put Ogoni in perpetual fear
and siege. Don’t forget, people that want to destroy you will always use
someone in your house. There is a possibility of some interest that we
have not been able to uncover in this whole matter,” Pyagbara said.
The MOSOP president, who had earlier
visited Nyokuru, Taabaa and Okwale communities to ascertain the level of
destruction and sympathise with victims’ families and people of the
area, again, lamented the razing of houses in his compound in Nyokuru
community and those of Chief Nule of Taabaa and others in Okwale
communities.
Pyagbara noted that time had come for Ogoni
to look inward and say ‘enough is enough,’ stressing that “every
right-thinking Ogoni man and woman must rise up against this madness”
and tell those involved that they could not put Ogoni under siege.
He explained that the peace initiative
that MOSOP and other groups had started, which youths groups, as well as
key stakeholders, were part of during the previous meetings was still
on course.
He expressed disappointment why some persons were not committed to the peace agreement at the Saakpenwa meeting.
“That people have turned around to do what
they are doing is a big surprise and a shame. I thought that we had a
moratorium, and that our brothers and fathers promised they were going
into deepening the peace process that we kicked started at Saakpenwa.
Ogoni doesn’t need this carnage, after all we have laboured for,” he
said.
On the Bomu-Lewe renewed clash, the
MOSOP president said he was surprised over the resurgence of conflict
between the two communities in Gokana Local Government Area.
He recalled that at some time, the
matter was resolved, as different groups and some elders went to the two
communities for peace.
Pyagbara stressed the need for
government at all levels to redouble efforts and take the insecurity
situation in Ogoni with much concern, adding that MOSOP, in
collaboration with other groups, would ensure no lapses in the drive for
the return of peace, to pave way for development in the area.
He also appealed to those involved in the carnage to stop further action and embrace peace.
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