Ijaw cry out over invasion, arrest of prominent leaders by soldiers

•IYC, Sara-Igbe demand release of Jackrich, Weris, others
By Emma Amaize, Regional Editor, South-South, and Daniel Abia

BY GODWIN OBI

The Ijaw ethnic nationality in the Niger Delta yesterday raised alarm over the invasion of the homes of prominent Ijaw leaders and sons, and the arrest of some without proper explanation by the Nigerian Army.

An Ijaw leader, Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, and the Ijaw Youths Council, IYC, who screamed on the development, said things were getting out of hand, citing how the Army invaded the home of a former governorship candidate of the National Rescue Movement, NRM, in Rivers State, Sobomoba Jackrich, popularly known as Egberipapa.

Calling for his immediate release, they said soldiers whisked him away after killing two of his aides in the early hours of Monday, when they stormed his Usukon country home in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State,

Chief Sara-Igbe, said: “We have not got any details but the police confirmed that he is with one of the security agencies. We do not know which security agency they referred to.

“We do not want to assume anything. The police stated that a security agency had arrested him. We do not know which security agency. We do not also know what crime he committed. If he committed any crime, hand him over for prosecution or release him.”

Sara-Igbe, a former spokesperson of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, warned: “If anything happens to Egberipapa, we will hold the police accountable.”

Similarly, Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, vowing that Ijaw would not play second fiddle in the country, said: “We have sacrificed a lot towards the growth and development of this country and need not be treated as a conquered people.
”In the last few months, Ijaw lands and her prominent leaders have been invaded, harassed, arrested and embarrassed for whatever strange reasons by the military that the Ijaw people are yet to know.”

Spokesperson of IYC, Binebai Yerin Princewill, said the group received distress calls on how military men in vans and armored personnel carriers stormed the Osokun residence of Amb. Sobomabo Jackrich in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, wherein they killed two people, Jackrich was arrested and taken to an unknown destination.

“Nigeria is not a banana republic, Nigeria is a country governed by laws; whatever we do must be within the ambit of the law, and those meant to protect the law must not be seen breaking the law.

“Too many Ijaw leaders and critical stakeholders have been killed, harassed, and humiliated in the past few weeks that we are yet to know the reasons behind such attacks and invasions.’