IYC tackles Nigeria Navy over arrest of coastal security outfit members in Delta
The Ijaw Youth Council, IYC Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom structure, has tackled the Nigeria Navy, Warri Base over the arrest of seven (7) of its coastal security outfit members.
This was contained in a statement issued to newsmen in Warri yesterday, a copy of which was sent to The Liberator Newspaper, signed by Amb. Smart Okosu.
According to Amb. Okosu, seven (7) of the Kingdom’s local security outfit members operating under the auspices of “Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom Coastal Watch & Anti-Seapirate Fighters” were arrested on May 3rd 2019 by officers of the Nigeria Navy in the Warri base.
The IYC Chairman had expressed worry over the incident as six (6) days have passed already without knowing the whereabouts of the said local security outfit members.
He had described the arrest of the Anti-Seapirate Fighters as a conspiracy from alleged enemies of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom.
In his words: “The act of Nigeria Navy Warri by arresting people who are working in line with all security agents for total peace in the riverine areas over these years is conspired arrest by Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom enemies to cause havoc and to execute their evil plans in the Ogbe-Ijoh river and communities, we won’t allow this in our jurisdiction.”
While defending the Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom Coastal Watch & Anti-Seapirate Fighters, Okosu had noted that the Ogbe-Ijoh waterways prior before the emergence of the local security outfit had recorded nearly all forms of vices, ranging from piracy, cultism, robbery, kidnapping and other nefarious activities, adding that the emergence of the group led to a drastical reduction of these vices in the waterways.
“It is amazing on how these same security group had held criminals with 200x power boats operating in the river and handed over to the NNS who has now turned to their enemies today.
“Recently, the same boys, handed over some criminals that were operating in the Ogbe-Ijoh river on daily bases to the Nigeria Police, Ogbe-Ijoh Division and the 200x power speed boats and other materials where transfered to Naval bass Warri for official report.
“This is another plan to permit seapiracy, criminality and cultism in the Ogbe-Ijoh river by the NNS.
“This security group is working for the interest of our beloved Kingdom in ensuring crime free environment.” The statement had asserted.
According to Smart, the seven Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom Coastal Watch & Anti-Seapirate Fighters arrested by the Nigeria Navy include Mr Amos Aaron, Kenneth Edongha, Oluwa Michael, Joseph Michael,Michael Tubor, Recheal Ikilowei and Stephen Dio.
“As a council, we call on all security agents especially the commander HQ operation Delta safe Igbere, Yenegoa Bayelsa State to intervene and give unconditional release of our boys to avoid increase of crime in our jurisdiction.”The Delta state government should also call the Naval C.O to order for professional security plan over the Ogbe-Ijoh Coastal Watch & Anti-Seapirate Fighters and henceforth, support this group to achieve and to happily address the threats of seapiracy, cultism and kidnapping around the waterways.” Okosu stated.
