Delay is dangerous. Our request was turned down, and our position rejected by the President. Till this moment, no honest attempt has been made to reach out to the Ijaw people for dialogue. Instead plans are being perfected to annihilate the Ijaws. Since the Ijaw Youths met at Kaiama to peacefully pursue self-determination and resource control, the response by the Federal Government and the oil companies has been the visitation of genocide on our people.
Several cases abound.
Ijaw Youths on a peaceful procession were mowed down in broad daylight in front of the Government House in Yenagoa. Eleven deaths were recorded while several hundreds were injured. More truckloads of soldiers arrive and another four Youths were killed including several injured. Soldiers in three truckloads invaded Kaiama, ransacked it, looted and killed several persons including the Chief of the community, Chief Sergeant Ofoniama. The two communities were burnt down leaving several deaths and injured.