Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has disowned Niger Delta Avengers and the Arepo militants in Lagos and Ogun states, saying they are common criminals.
Speaking to newsmen in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, IYC President, Udengs Eradiri, urged Nigerians to stop linking the militants to Ijaw people.
“There
is an economic crime going on along the pipelines in this country.
There are Yoruba people there. There are Igbo, there are Hausa, Fulani,
Ijaw and other ethnic nationalities involved in the crime going on in
Arepo. Nigerians should stop ascribing it to Ijaw people," Eradiri said.
"Nigerians
should stop ascribing anything that happens in the Niger Delta to Ijaw
people. For the avoidance of doubt, Niger Delta Avengers are not Ijaw
people.
“We don’t know who the Niger
Delta Avengers are. The security people should do their work and stop
transferring their responsibilities to community leaders, youth
organisations and leaders of ethnic nationalities.
“In
as much as we grieve with the families that were affected in one way or
another, we want to categorically say that the Avengers and Arepo
militants are not Ijaw people, they are common criminals who are
stealing refined products for economic reasons.”
Reacting
to the destruction of property belonging to the Ijaw people in Lagos,
the Council leader expressed regrets, appealing to the Yoruba not to
allow themselves to be used by fifth columnists who are trying to create
conflict and animosity between the Yoruba and Ijaw in Lagos.
He
said Ijaw is willing to resolve the crisis, and will always condemn any
action that will jeopardise peace in Lagos State and its environs.
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