The Ijaw People’s Development Initiative (IPDI) has lamented the reported invasion of Okomu, an Ijaw community, by soldiers and policemen.
The IPDI, in a statement issued by its National President, Mr. Austin Ozobo, accused the Okomu Oil Palm Company, supposed tenant of Okomu Ijaw people, as being the brain behind the invasion.
The group said it was disheartening that the military and police could burn down the Okomu community just because some unidentified persons stole some items in the area.
It wondered what made the soldiers and policemen feel that those who stole the company’s items were Ijaw people and not people of other ethnic nationalities as the forest could be accessed by Bini, Itsekiri and Ijaw people.
IPDI said: “It is wrong to have invaded Ijaw community for a crime committed by yet-to-be identified persons. This is an injustice, a complete violation of the fundamental rights of indigenes of Ijaw community.
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“It is our demand that the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff and the Inspector-General of Police should launch an urgent probe into what led to the burning down of Okomu community, arrest and prosecute security officers responsible for the dastard act.
“We are dismayed over the military and police rascality in Okomu community. It is sad that Nigerian military and police have been reduced to the level they now act according to the whims and caprices of ethnic and political bigots.
“It is appalling that the military and police have thrown discipline and professionalism to the winds.”
The group stated that the Ijaw people had tolerated the continued unlawful invasion of their communities in Edo State, stressing that they had contacted their lawyers over the invasion.
It stated: “We have been pushed to the wall. We are asking Okomu Oil Palm Company to evacuate Okomu forest. We do not need them. The Okomu forest belongs to the Okomu Ijaws.
“They have over stayed their welcome. As long as they have decided to take our peaceful dispositions for granted, we will forcefully quit them from the area.”
