The Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC) Worldwide has expressed concerns over subtle deployment of troops to the Gbaramatu Kingdom by the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Pereotubo Roland Oweilaemi, President, IYC Worldwide, in a statement on Friday said the group chose to keep silent over the development because the military had earlier denied sending troops to the kingdom.
He said: “In spite of the denials, IYC is receiving distress calls from the kingdom with pictorial evidence of how armoured gunboats have been deployed to the area to cause tension.
“We have even seen for ourselves the bizarre movements of troops to the creeks. We don’t know the rationale behind these strange deployments of troops to an area that is peaceful.
“The presence of the Armed Forces in the kingdom has caused tension in the entire Niger Delta. People cannot go about their lawful businesses as the soldiers are harassing and intimidating travellers who plied the waterways.”
Oweilaemi maintained that currently, more than 20 armoured gunboats stationed in the Gbaramatu Kingdom had been carrying out stop and search operations, thereby hindering free movements of people in the Creeks.
He stressed that the revered Gbaramatu King’s entourage was subjected to horrendous and sacrilegious treatment, adding that he was emotionally and psychologically humiliated by the unlawful and unjustified invasion of the kingdom.
“Worst still, while the armoured gunboats are being stationed in the kingdom to harass and intimidate passersby, a helicopter gunship is hovering around the area as if there is war in the creeks.
“We have it on good authority that the presence of the troops there is because of the pending general elections.
“The Federal Government should not because of its desperate ambition push the region into another round of crisis. There is no justification whatsoever to deploy troops to the Gbaramatu Kingdom or any part of the Niger Delta region,” he added.
He stressed that the action amounted to a challenge to war, adding, “We are not at war with the Federal Government. Niger Delta is not a conquered territory.
“The plan, according to our source, is to deploy troops massively to the region during the elections so that the ruling government at the centre and its agents can rig the elections for their own favour.
“IYC is fully aware that the government is also planning to clamp down on some dissent voices in the region including the leadership of the IYC through trumped up allegations of security threats.
READ ALSO: Elections: ONSA says there’s no plan to shut down internet
“In spite of the provocations, IYC is appealing to the Niger Delta people to be law abiding. We however, warn that our people will not fold their hands and allow political players to turn our region into launch pad of military operations. We will take every legal step to resist it.”
Oweilaemi, stressed: “IYC reiterates our call for free, fair and credible elections. Our concern is not primarily who wins at the polls, but let Nigerians freely exercise their franchise. The votes of the people must count.
“That is the concern of every well-meaning Nigerian. No amount of threats will cow the IYC, the Ijaw nation and indeed the Niger Delta people from speaking their minds. Nigerians will definitely resist rigging of any form.”
He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately order the withdrawal of the troops from the region, adding that Nigerians and the nation’s economy would be at the receiving end should there be any crisis in the region.
“Those who want to use federal might to fight their political opponents should stay clear of the Niger Delta. All we want is peace and we are enjoying it already.
“This unconstitutional deployment of troops of this magnitude without legislative approval will not only derail the existing peace in the region, it will also affect our peaceful co-existence as a corporate entity.
“IYC is also calling on the international community and friends of Nigeria to prevail on the Buhari government not to set Niger Delta on fire because of its political ambition.
“The entire region is very tense now. We fear the military presence in the Gbaramatu Kingdom may cause total breakdown of law and order,” he added.
