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Group Condemns Troops Deployment to Warri

This Day (Lagos)
NEWS
August 31, 2003
Posted to the web September 2, 2003

By Malachy Agbo
Lagos
A socio-cultural group under the aegis of Oganihu Anioma has condemned the
crises in Warri that led to lost of lives and property caused by the fracas
between the Ijaw and Itshekiri youths, as it frowned at subsequent deployment
of troops to the area by the federal government.
In a statement issued by the association signed by its President and Scribe,
Engr. Igwe Enuoyibo and Patrick Ukah respectively, stated that the tribal war
in the area was senseless and did not showcase the attitude of the entire
people of Delta State to life and co-existence.
"Despite politics, the Ijaw and Itsekrir in Warri are inseparable as they are
related by blood and culture. The killing among themselves is therefore
senseless," it said. Adding that it regretted that politics was allowed to
pitch the ethnic groups in Delta South, who ordinarily were related by blood
and culture. It further stated that it does not think that the deployment of
troops to the war torn area will bring permanent peace to the residents of
Warri and its environs. "Military solution in Warri and its environs cannot
bring lasting peace to the people of the Niger Delta and all those who do not
feel secure by the presence of the military in the area because , in short
time, the desperate youths will device some other strategies to fight on," said
the statement. But rather, the association advocated for a political solution
to the problems facing the people of Niger Delta as a whole.

   

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