Ijaw Elders’ Forum (IEF) on Friday called for the establishment of a home grown security outfit in the Niger Delta region in line with what the South West and Northern regions have done.
Rising from a meeting in Lagos to review the action plan on their long drawn out agitation for remedy to the environmental pollution and destruction of the Ijaw land resulting from oil exploitation activities, the Forum called on the South South governors to toe the line of their colleagues in other regions.
The elders also expressed their resolve to work to stem the continued destruction of their environment by the oil and gas operators.
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In a release signed by its secretary, Pastor Efiye Bribena, the elders stated: “In response to the challenges of economy and insecurity in the country, the forum, therefore, called on governors of the South-South to form their own security oufit (Operation Red-Crab) and also revive the BRACE commission to foster economic integration in the region.
“Our rights to existence and protection as a geographically contiguous people of the same culture are seriously threatened in Nigeria.
“We shall work with purposeful and sincere allies to ensure that oil and gas exploitation activities are carried out in a responsible and equitable manner to the benefit of our communities. We shall also work to stem the continued destruction of our environment by the oil and gas operations. We shall make it a priority to demand for an immediate remediation of the already damaged environment.”
