Wilfred Ogbotobo, a prominent chief of Nembe Kingdom, has debunked
claims by the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) in Bayelsa State that the
military invaded a community in Nembe Local Government Area of the state.
Ogbotobo who spoke
at the weekend in Yenagoa urged the Federal Government, National Assembly and
the Defence Headquarters to discountenance a petition by Nengi James, the
chairman of CLO, and Kenneth Okorodas, the acting research secretary, alleging
that troops of Operation Delta Safe (ODS) over-ran Sand-Sand community in the
kingdom.
The CLO had raised
the alarm that ODS operatives in search of members of the Niger Delta Avengers
invaded the community, attacking the residents and burning down houses,
churches and schools.
But Ogbotobo
described the allegations of the human rights group as a tissue of lie,
stressing that it was unfair and signposted ignorance and ingratitude.
He said, "The
allegations are speculative. The public should ignore them as malicious
propaganda and cheap blackmail intended to discredit the genuine intentions of
the Federal Government in spite of the ultimate sacrifices being made by
Nigerian soldiers to maintain law and order in the Nembe Local Government Area.
"The ease with
which Ijaw political players, civil and human rights activists are wont to
stoke local sentiments to stifle truth and attain undue relevance and
publicity, is sickening.
"It is regrettable
and saddening that the state Chairman of the Civil Liberties Organisation,
Chief Nengi James Eriworio, a chief of the Nembe Kingdom, should be the one
credited with peddling these petty, nonsensical falsehoods against the very
Army that has made his hometown, Nembe City, safe and secured for him to move
around as a chief. This is nothing but malicious ingratitude".
He contended that
James and his Bayelsa CLO were aware that soldiers deployed in Nembe area had
always been subjected to extreme provocations.
He stated that in
spite of such provocations, the soldiers had always showed restraint, maturity
and discipline, in strict compliance with rules of engagement while carrying
out their assignments in "extremely vexatious and distressing environment
in Nembe territory."
Ogbotobo added,
"The public could recall that on two different occasions, in the span of
one year alone, the Nigerian Army suffered gruesome loss of about 10 troops who
were killed in cold-blood, unprovoked attacks on the same security post, at
Tombi Jetty in Nembe City.
"The
circumstances solicited general outcry and condemnations even in the community
and, could have been exploited as golden opportunity for a military invasion
and destruction of Nembe City or other areas of its territory.
"Rather, the
Military High Command visited Nembe City to demonstrate understanding;
dispelled the fears of the community; chased and apprehended the criminals, in
a commendable, most professional conduct.
"No community
was invaded or sacked. The soldiers did not go after and harass innocent,
peaceful and unharmed persons in any community. Curiously, what was the
reaction of the Civil Liberties Organisation in Bayelsa State and its state
chairman then?
"If those dastardly
acts were to be committed by troops against the Nembe people, the likes of
Chief Nengi James Eriworio and his Bayelsa Civil Liberties Organisation would
have jumped on the roof tops of the world media to crow and draw
attention."
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