The ongoing premeditated invasion of the Ijaw communities of Gbaranmantu, Oporoza, etc, in Warri South L.G.A of Delta State to ensure the unfettered flow of oil from the Niger Delta, makes nonsense of Mr. President’s widely publicized offer of amnesty to the Niger Delta Freedom Fighters. We had hoped, while commending the President’s gesture at the time, that the amnesty was not a manipulative ploy by our erstwhile opportunistic political jobbers in collaboration with the hawks of the feudal oligarchy who now have a strangulating hold on Mr. President, to bide their time while perfecting their morbid plans to decimate our communities. To be sure, the ongoing invasion of the communities, a la Odi has confirmed our worst fears.
We also note that recently our self-styled leaders of thought led by the omnipotent and omnipresent elder statesman, following a visit to the villa, had expressed satisfaction with the discussions held with Mr. President and had showered encomiums on, and paid glowing tributes to Mr. President and the Federal Government over the amnesty and other matters affecting the Niger Delta. They had in that forum promised essentially to ensure that the “militants” who are their “boys” and are under “their control” would all fall in line and reciprocate positively to the President’s amnesty. Again, as always, they have failed to deliver and the macabre dance and fraternization goes on!!!
In this regard, we find it difficult to accept the claim by the JTF that the invasion was part of a search and rescue operation in Camp 5, because Camp 5 is neither in Oporoza nor the other communities that have been decimated. We therefore hold the Federal Government and the JTF responsible for the wanton massacre of scores of our people in those communities as well as the properties destroyed.
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Finally, we call on the Federal Government to halt immediately this dastardly and disproportionate military bombardment of our communities while we call on our freedom fighters to engage in any reprisal attacks. On our part, we have an obligation to consider all options including taking our case to the ICC and it will this time not be time barred as was the case with the Odi massacres. We are determined to check the brutal excesses of the Federal Military might, inflicted so arrogantly on our people and the Niger Delta region. Ultimately, justice must reign supreme.
We are waiting.
Prof. Kimse Okoko.
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