From Ben Dunno, Warri
Gbaramatu Youth Council (GYC) in Delta State has called on security agencies, especially Department of State Security Services (DSS) to invite for questioning a prominent Itsekiri youth leader (name withheld), over a recent statement inciting his ethnic youths to pick up arms to defend themselves against the invasion of their communities by members of Tantita’s Security outfit.
GYC said the call became necessary to avoid the sad experience of the Warri crisis that witnessed the destruction of lives and property for a very long time. Its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Maxwell Wuruyai, said GYC would not tolerate any instigated attack on operatives of Tantita duly engaged by the Federal Government to protect the nation’s critical assets:
“Gbaramutu people have been known for peace and have no intention of attacking any of their neighbours. Tantita is not owned by Gbaramutu Kingdom but engaged by the Federal Government to protect oil pipelines from vandalism and illegal bunkering.”
Wuruyai said the Itsekiri youth leader “is venting his anger on the ground that Tantita is preventing illegal bunkering. We firmly believe that his bitterness stem from the disruption of illegal bunkering by Tantita operations. He now thinks to incite ethnic unrest.”
The group called on the Federal Government to monitor the activities of Itsekiri youth leader and prevent him from disturbing the relative peace in the region: “It should be made abundantly clear that no ethnic group has the monopoly of violence and they must not be pushed to that point.
“Tantita did not invade any community. Tantita does not work alone but in collaboration to curb oil theft in the region. Based on Nigeria Constitution under section 366 of the Criminal Code, anybody involved in threat of violence or act of that nature faces criminal charges and will be punished accordingly.”
GYC said the Itsekiri youth leader “may not know that the oil bearing communities including Itsekiri areas benefit from Tantita operations as the three per cent for communities development under Petroleum Industrial Act is realised when oil infrastructure is protected from sabotage.
“We also call on our Itsekiri brothers, sisters to reject this device rhetoric. The true enemies are not those securing the nation’s assets but those exploiting the region resources for personal gains.
“Nobody has the monopoly of provocation. But for the sake of peace, we continue to show restraint. Our silence is not to be taken for fear. We remain vigilant, united and committed to defending our land, name and peace we have always stand for.”