* Says use of force ‘ll form radical group in South East like N/Delta
The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide has admonished federal Government to invite various aggrieved groups in the country to go for a round table discussion, saying that use of force on the Eastern group, IPOB with soldiers would only escalate and form radical armed groups like Niger Delta militancy.
National President of Ijaw Youths Council, Barr, Eric Omare in a press statement made available to Daily Watch in Warri, said ‘’Use of force or intimating members of IPOB will not solve any problem. Dialogue is the way out of the ongoing conflict between soldiers and members of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) in Umuohia, Abia State and other parts of the south east’’
The factional leader of IYC said that the deployment of soldiers in the form of operation python dance would only succeed in escalating the already tense situation in the south eastern part of the country.
He admonished federal government to learn from experience from other parts of the country where unnecessary military application has led to radicalization of youths and escalation of the conflicts as evidenced in the Niger Delta region.
‘‘The IYC strongly believe that the demands of IPOB are not in any way different from the demands of other groups and organizations in Nigeria, hence what needs to be done is for government to start the process of constructive dialogue towards addressing the issues been raised by members of IPOB in the south east and other groups all over the country. It would amount to self-deceit for the government to think that the issues can be resolved through military might. There is no amount of military application that would stop the ongoing agitations for the continuous existence of Nigeria to be renegotiated
‘‘The IYC also strongly condemn the ongoing human rights violations in the name of operation python dance 11. We reiterate our call for the military to be withdrawn from the streets of the south east and the violations of human rights must stop. The international community and human right community are called upon to prevail on President Buhari to bring to justice the soldiers who violated the rights of people in the name of operation python dance 11’’ he said.
