The Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide, an umbrella body of Ijaw youths, has condemned the killings of four persons during a military invasion of Oluasiri community in the Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
During a security operation on Thursday, a mother and her six-month-old baby and two other persons were reportedly killed by soldiers.
Southern City News learnt that the military operation was launched to dislodge suspected militants and sea pirates, allegedly hiding in Oluasiri community.
While some security personnel claimed the soldiers opened fire on the community following gunshot attacks from the suspected militants, the indigenes of Oluasiri community denied the claim, insisting that the military attack was unprovoked.
Reacting to the killings, the Chairman of IYC, Central Zone, Mr Tare Porri, said the invasion was a provocative action by the military, alleging the development confirmed the suspicion that the military was sectional and biased.
He said, “The military has insulted us to provoke war in our land. We call on the Federal Government to apologise without delay for this infantile act of deliberate provocation.
“This wanton act is an action against the laws of human rights and a threat to democracy. We kick against the logic of civility in a supposed free society to deploy overwhelming weapons and personnel of warfare against a peaceful community within the ambit of non-violence.
“President Muhammadu Buhari, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, must be held accountable for the military’s actions. There could be no justifiable excuses why soldiers would invade and murder an innocent baby and others.”
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