Yenagoa—The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Friday bemoaned the recent killing of a protesting Ijaw youth, late Mr. Ikiowori Benson, by military personnel attached to an offshore oil facility within OML 59 operated by Consolidated Oil and Gas (Conoil).
Mangrovepen.ng had reported that the deceased, alongside ten other youths of Sangana community in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, were shot by security agents on duty during a peaceful protest at the facility.
At a media parley in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, Comr. Clever Inodu, Chairman of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Central Zone described the action of the security personnel as “very unprofessional.”
He lambasted Conoil for refusing to discuss with Sangana people despite the ugly occurrence that has claimed a promising life and left others badly injured.
In his words: “It is very necessary that you must come down and discuss with them. Therefore, as chairman of council, I am adding my voice to that of the community.
“Conoil should come and attend to the needs and the demands of Sangana community
He revealed that the IYC central zone under his leadership will join the Sangana people to shut down Conoil operations if the company fails to meet the 4hrs ultimatum given by the community and his group.
“As a council, we are going to mobilize because this menace must stop. It is our support to them and we are coming to the platform to carry out another peaceful protest.
“We are a very peaceful people, we are a very patient people, but when you want to test the patience of the Ijaw man the Ijaw blood will come out of us,” he said.
The IYC chairman called on President Bola Tinubu, Governor Douye Diri and relevant security agencies to intervene and settle the matter amicably.
