By Cletus Opukeme, Editor
The National President Ijaw Publishers Forum, Comrade Austin Ozobo yesterday has accused both local and foreign media of conspiracy theory against the people of Niger Delta region by blackmailing the Niger Delta freedom fighters criminals and militants thereby, stopping international community support to achieve her goal of freedom.
According to him, ”These unethical and inimical colorations further created room for the genocidal attacks and massacre in Ijaw land by the Nigeria. troops.
Ozobo disclosed this during the formal historical inauguration of the Ijaw publishers Forum ( IPF) in Warri
He said both the foreign and local media over the years have criminalised the Ijaw Struggle as well as that of the Niger Delta.
Comrade Ozobo made the assertion during his inaugural speech shortly after an eight(8) man National Executive was inaugurated for the IPF.
He said,”Foreign media, without fear or favour branded our freedom fighters as militants, kidnappers, sea pirates, hostage takers and oil thieves. All these were to criminalise the struggle and weaken its prospects.”
He noted that the Ijaw people are “agitators”
contrary to the ugly names the foreign media had branded the Ijaw people.
According to Comrade Ozobo,”The criminalisation of our struggle by foreign media reduced support from the international community for our freedom.