As the battle line is drawn between the Federal Government and the militants, following the deployment during the week of more soldiers and two naval warship, tough-talking leaders of the fighters, have condemned President Umaru Yar’Adua’s action, describing it as callous, wicked and an attempt to wipe out the Ijaw nation from the face of the earth.

Some of the youth leaders who spoke variously on phone with SATURDAY SUN, in Warri, boasted that two million military personnel cannot withstand the militants and accused Mr. President of trying to waste the innocent military men.
Comrade Joseph Evah, co-ordinator, of the Ijaw Monitoring Group, described the Naval warship being paraded in the Niger-Delta as a fashion parade, boasting that they have since strategised, waiting for any eventually.

“They cannot stand us. America went to fight Iraq but they ran away. In fact, President Yar’Adua has not seen anything. We will finish the military if they dare us”, boasted Evah who also warned all foreigners working in the Niger-Delta to leave the volatile region before it is too late. He further warned that the Federal Government will be inviting more trouble for the country if the military dare attack any Ijaw youth or any Ijaw community and warned that the militants are battle ready.

“They cannot subdue us. We are battle-ready. We want them to know that who is fighting for his salary is different from somebody fighting for survival. We are more on ground than those military men who are coming to our territory as foreigners”, Evah further said through the phone.

He threatened that all oil pipelines in the region will be blown-up if there is any confrontation between our boys and the so-called military men of Mr. President.

Evah said for eight years the militants were able to subdue ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s army but we will disgrace Yar’Adua and his one billion military men and make him a stool.
But, the Secretary, Niger-Delta Peace and Reconciliation committee, Hon Kingsley Kuku, in his reaction described the invasion of the region by the military as unnecessary, waste of funds and government resources.

He maintained that the crisis in the region is not a difficult one to handle, especially when our young men have decided to cease fire to give peace a chance.

Kuku, who was ex-member of the Ondo State House of Assembly, recalled the road map to peace committee that was constituted at Oporoza which he said is yielding fruitful result also indicated that the Ijaw youths are ready to maintain peace and pleaded with the Federal Government not to allow the peace process crumble.

“On Henry Okah, the MEND leader trial, we pleaded with our youths to let peace reign, whether he is being tried or not, but at the same time we plead with Mr. President to implement the master plan for the development of the region”, explained Hon Kuku.

He however condemned the military approach which the Federal Government is now using instead of political approach, adding that the family of the innocent people they are killing daily will not be happy just as the unwarranted attack on the youths they call the militants should be condemned by well meaning Nigerians.

Kuku however supported the beefing up of security around the oil installations but frowned at the military option now being used to exterminate the Ijaw ethnic group.
For peace to reign, the peace committee member therefore pleaded with the President and Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to call the Joint military Task Force to order, alleging that the soldiers are operating in a manner which runs counter to the laid down procedure.

“Military deployment should not be used as a basis of attack but our people should maintain peace. I am happy that Chief Edwin Clark and some of us have intervened to ensure that peace reign. Government should look at the resolution and deal with the situation once and for all”, cautioned Hon. Kuku.
He insisted that the issue should be resolved amicably through dialogue instead of drafting in the military to kill and maim innocent and defenseless citizens.

Kuku further condemned the JTF of compounding the situation adding, “We can make peace but a lot of people don’t want peace because they benefit a lot from the crisis.

Meanwhile, defenseless citizens are leaving the Ijaw communities in Delta State in droves as they are afraid of being attacked by the military.

sun