By Akinwale Kasali
Contrary reports making the rounds that Ijaw Youths are planning coordinated attacks on Military Facilities and Locations across the Niger Delta Region the Leadership of the Ijaw National Council, INC, says it’s a complete fallacy.
The planned attack was discovered following an alleged intelligence report directing military formations in the region to be on high alert over the purported plan.
Benjamin Okaba, President of the INC, debunked the speculation, describing it as false and deliberately aimed at tarnishing the image of the Ijaw Nation.
In a Statement on Sunday, Okaba said there was no such plan or any reason or justification that warrants contemplating such devilish plan by the Ijaw Youth Council or any other organization in Ijaw land.
His words, “As the umbrella organisation of Ijaw people worldwide, our attention has been drawn to an orchestrated report aimed at pitching the Federal Government and military against the Ijaw nation.
“We have carried out diligent investigation and found out that the report is not only fake but a figment of the imagination of those who concocted and generated this delicate, devilish and unfortunate idea.
“The region needs peace, tranquility and development now more than ever and we are all united as Ijaw people in condemning the dastardly acts of the criminals who killed the officers and men of the Nigerian Army.
“We, however, wish to reiterate as in our earlier statements on this subject matter that the military should be more professional in fishing out the culprits.
More damages should not be inflicted on the innocent indigenes and that justice be tampered with mercy to the extent of exempting the innocent citizens of the affected communities in their reprisal operations.
“We also wish to use this opportunity to warn and advice members of the political class within and outside the region that they should not take their desperate politics beyond the level of decency.
“The originators of this evil and very dangerous plot are the true enemies of the Ijaw nation.”
Okaba called on all well meaning Nigerians, and particularly, the military authorities, “to disregard this fake and unfounded rumour and treat it as such.”
