The Ijaw Youth Council has condemned the killing of an Okomu Oil worker by gunmen and the destruction of 20 hectares of the company’s rubber plantation in Ovia South-West Local Government Area of Edo.
In a press statement on Friday, Mr. Olu Derimon, Western Zone Secretary of IYC and made available to journalists in Benin, the Ijaw body noted that the action of the gunmen was not only barbaric but capable of destroying several families means of livelihoods.
They called for a thorough investigation of the matter and bring to book those responsible for the “dastardly” act.
Derimon said, “While we condemn the barbaric act as no man has the right to take the life of another just like that, we want to urge the state government and the security agencies to thoroughly investigate the matter and bring to justice those behind the barbaric act.
“On the premise of Investigation, we want to appeal to security agencies not to harass nor intimidate host communities leaving around Okomu and environs who are lawfully going about their normal businesses.
“While we agonise with the Okomu oil company and the disease family over the death of the young man, we advise that they should not jump to a conclusion.
“It’s too early to start looking in one direction since investigations are still on preliminary stage by way of coming to the public in a way to allude that the assailant came through the river.”
The IYC secretary called for cooperation between the host communities and the security agencies in order to quickly unravel the identity of those behind the attack on Okomu Oil.
“Okomu community and others around should cooperate with the security agencies and government to make sure that the Okomu farm bounces back to operations while investigations are still on.
“Also, its high time the Okomu management, state government and host communities came to round table discussions to address grey areas affecting both company and host communities for harmonious collaboration for a more robust relationship,” he stated.
