From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Partnership Advocacy for Sustainable Society (PASS) has called on the Federal Government to deliver justice following a violent attack on Abu Joseph, a staff of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, and the Akamama community in the Opuama Kingdom, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
PASS Convener, Lion Adebayo, at a press briefing at the weekend in Abuja, decried the repeated invasions of the Akamama community by gunmen suspected to be security personnel attached to private surveillance companies.
According to Adebayo, the latest attack left Joseph’s home and properties worth millions of Naira destroyed, rendering him and his family homeless and displacing many community members.
“Mr Abu, a staff of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, Bayelsa Operations, is the head of operations at Lagos gbene Camp.
“He has been subjected to numerous inhuman treatments, including unjust refusal to pay his salaries leading to trauma,” Adebayo said.
He added: “As if that is not enough, gunmen dressed in military uniforms suspected to be personnel and workers of the popular surveillance companies invaded his residence with military gunboats destroying his buildings and other properties worth millions, rendering him and family homeless with personal staff and aides displaced and unemployed.”
He explained that the reoccurring attack came barely 10 days after a previous attack on Abu’s property and the helpless community.
He alleged that the repeated attacked on the coastal community has created economic hardship and halting socio economic activities in the agrarian community.
According to him, women, men and children fled into surrounding bushes to escape the violence, further highlighting the community’s vulnerability.
He said: “The nefarious act of coming to invade Abu’s compound, the community and others has become a regular occurrence, yet the Federal Government has not intervened, hence the need for this press conference to draw the attention of the federal and state governments, as well as the owners of the surveillance companies.”
He listed key demands, including an immediate end to the attacks, full compensation for Joseph and other affected residents, payment of all withheld entitlements and protection of the human rights and dignity of the Akamama people.
He, also called on the government, human rights organisations and the international community to condemn the attacks, ensure accountability and provide necessary support to the displaced victims.
“If urgent steps are not taken, the Akamama community risks being completely wiped out by these unprovoked assaults,” Adebayo warned.