The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) on Wednesday condemned the invasion of Chief Edwin Clark, at his Kiagbodo resident, in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta by Soldiers.
The position of IYC is contained in a statement issued in Yenagoa by its spokesman, Amb. Binebai Princewill.
According to him, the IYC has exhibited patriotism by showing support to the Nigerian military, the federal government by condemning the attack that resulted to the unfortunate killing of 17 soldiers at Okuama, in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta.
The statement reads: “We don’t want to believe that the Nigerian military is embarking on ethnic cleansing of the Ijaws in Nigeria.
“The military must not forget that during the attack that resulted to the killing of 17 soldiers at Okuama, an Ijaw son who was with the military on the peace mission was also killed even though his death has been underreported.
“In essence, the Ijaw nation has been on the losing end of this ugly development that has plagued the Niger Delta region in the last few weeks.
“On account of the ambush, Igbomotoro and Peremabiri communities in Bayelsa State have been invaded and some peoples lost their lives,” the statement read in pary.
According to the statement, the IYC has always tasked the military to work strictly with intelligence and not to go out of the rules of engagements.
“We are in a democratic era and not a purely military regime. The invasion and destruction of properties at Pa Clark’s House in Kiagbodo, Burutu LGA, of Delta State on Saturday is a great insult on the Ijaw people and is highly condemnable.
“We are yet to know the offence he has committed against the Nigerian government and military that will lead to this kind of attack on his house. This is not only embarrassing to the personality of Pa Clark but the highest level of disrespect to the elderly.
“Pa Clark has diligently served this country as a Senator and a first republican minister of information. He is aged 97 as of now and has been one of the strongest pillars of unity in Niger Delta and Nigeria at large.
“He is the leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF). To even think that he will be harbouring criminal elements in his house is the greatest slap on his face and that of the Niger Delta people.
“Let us make this clear, nobody is stopping the military from carrying out their duties to flush out criminal elements, what we are saying is that they should work with credible intelligence.
“So, that the innocent people will not pay for a sin they did not commit. Now that nothing incriminating was found at Pa Clark’s residence, how will the military now pay for the damage caused on the personality of the nonagenarian ?,” the IYC stated.
The statement recalls that same way in 2018 that the Abuja residence of Pa Clark was invaded by officers and found nothing incriminating.
“Today another one has happened, what is really happening, what is the offense of our father Pa Clark?,” IYC queried.