The Elders Council, Western Zone of Ijaw Youth Congress, IYC, has called for restraint and not reprisal over the attack on Akpata an Ijaw community in Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State by youths alleged to be Itsekiri.
The alleged attack, which led to the destruction of property and injuries sustained by many was said to be as a result of the Supreme Court ruling on recent ward delineation by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
A statement by the Chairman of the Council, Razak Amatoru; Secretary, Amb. Andrew Igiri and Head of Defence of the Council, Fred Afuegba while urging the Ijaw not to retaliate, called on security agencies to arrest those involved in the attack.
The statement read: “We, the esteemed members of the Council of Elders, condemn in the strongest terms the recent attack on the Akpata community in Gbaramatu Kingdom. We call on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State to put more effort to quell this growing tension in Warri.
“We equally implore the National Security Adviser to the President, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu to also intensify his arbitration process on this matter and ensure a lasting solution and peace is achieved.
“For those that carried out this nefarious attack on Akpata community, we call on the security agencies to expeditiously examine these complaints before they worsen.
“We appeal to the security agencies to apprehend those involved in this heinous act and prosecute them accordingly.
“While some Itsekiris may express discontent with the judgment and INEC’s stance on enforcing its directive, we urge our Itsekiri neighbours to be cautious of their aggressive approach and avoid taking the law into their own hands. Itsekiri must refrain from the use of unguarded inflammatory rhetoric that could spark ethnic crises akin to those experienced in 1998.
“It is apparent that the Itsekiri have been extremely agitated recently with threats capable of causing ethnic conflict but as elders in IYC, we warn that no ethnic group should resort to violence but rather make full use of available channels to express grievances.
“The practice of taking the law into our own hands should be outdated, and it is imperative that we join forces in fighting our common enemy-underdevelopment and poverty.
“We strongly urge them to recognise the need to restrain their youths before the situation escalates further. A stitch in time saves nine.”
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