AYAKOROMO MASSACRE THE TRUE STORY

We have invited you to this press conference to share with you the pains visited on our peace-loving community by the Joint Task Force (JTF), a special military task force in the Niger Delta on the 1st of December, 2010.
Following reports of a full-scale military invasion of Ayakoromo, a federated community along River Forcados in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, we dispatched three separate teams to the community in company with respected International human right bodies and the media to ascertain the truth.

Ayakoromo, an autonomous city-state is about 25 nautical miles from the oil city of Warri. By the 1991 population census, Ayakoromo recorded a head count of 41,204 persons. The community occupies a stretch of the Forcados River and part of its estuary.

These high population and geographical expanse confer on Ayakoromo, the melting pot of commercial and socio-political activities; and a high-way of contact among communities in the Western Niger Delta. Her citizens have attained a high- level of professional strength and exposure in various fields of human endeavour.

The indigenes who speak the Ijaw language engage in productive activities such as fishing, farming, canoe carving, masonry, trading and local gin distillery. Ayakoromo is the home of the Catholic Faith in Ijawland. Besides, its huge catholic population, it has produced the highest number of catholic priests among Ijaw communities in Nigeria. The people are sociable and hospitable.

In 2004, some misguided youths led by one John Togo terrorized the community and its neighbours. He was consequently outlawed and ostracized by Ayakoromo community. Later that year, John Togo was arrested in Port Harcourt and detained at the David Ejoor Barracks, Warri. But for reasons best known to the authorities, John Togo without trial after more than 2 years in detention was freed.

He subsequently became part of the militancy in the Niger Delta. John Togo accepted amnesty offered by Late President Umaru Yar’Adua in 2009. The post-amnesty programme transformed most of the militants into emperors, among who was John Togo. He suddenly became a close ally of the Federal Government and it’s Military.

This was displayed in John Togo’s farm-camp; about 3 miles from Ayakoromo town where military officers dined and wined daily with him. With this you can easily decipher why the harmless and defenseless citizens cannot challenge the now heavily-armed militant called John Togo.
Why John Togo recently backed out from the amnesty programme is a secret between the Federal Government, its military and the man himself. On several occasions, the community leaders provided the military with information at the David Ejoor Barracks, yet the military did not act decisively.

This was also confirmed by the JTF Commander, Major-General Charles Omoregie in his interviews with the press. (eg The Nation of Sunday December 5th 2010 and Sun Rise Daily programme of Channels TV of Tuesday 7th December, 2010.)

Ladies and gentlemen, what placed Ayakoromo community in the anvil for hammering on that fateful 1st December, 2010 was spine-chilling to say the least. Although, for days, speculations were rife of an imminent invasion of the community by the military in search of John Togo; many never believed it would happen because John Togo neither had a camp nor a living house in the town.

John Togo for over two years never lived in the town. The military knows where John Togo’s camps are – they are far away from the community. JOHN TOGO OR HIS FOLLOWERS NEVER FLED INTO AYAKOROMO OR USED IT AS A SHIELD THAT VERY DAY OF THE ATTACK.

At about 12noon that day, soldiers in more than 10 gun boats started shooting indiscriminately from the western fringe of the town. In less than 20 minutes after the gun boats were seen, 4 jet- fighters from the Warri axis emerged and started shelling the community. From the eastern end of the community landed heavy artillery with grenade launchers and other sophisticated weapons.

It was a thoroughly-planned and mobilized punitive expedition that is only intended to achieve a genocidal purpose! At the end of the day about 51 persons were confirmed dead. Over 500 persons sustained injuries of various degrees. What was left of the community after the bombardments were corpses in their pool of blood and ashes: Over 200 buildings in the community also went down in rubbles!

Not done! The following day, 2nd December, 2010 the soldiers came back, looting, raping, and burning down every house in the community especially in the Community Reserved Area (CRA). After looting, each house was set ablaze. WERE ALL THESE REALLY IN SEARCH OF A RENEGADE MILITANT WHO WAS NEVER NEAR THE TOWN?

By our last count, 15 children, 11 women and 25 men have been confirmed dead. Over 100 persons have been declared missing. And over 10,000 persons have been displaced. They have become refugees in Ughelli, Warri, Ogbe-Ijoh, Bomadi, Burutu, Gbekebor, Obotebe and some communities in Bayelsa State while some are held hostage in Ngbilebiri Primary School compound in Ayakoromo. In anticipation of the visit by human rights bodies, the soldiers hurriedly forced the hostages to dig mass graves at different locations in the community and buried some of the corpses while some were carried to a waiting gun boat and taken away. Among these lot were Pa Yeigagha; a 72-year old blind and retired headmaster who could not run was roasted alive in his own house; Mama Alina Emolade, 97-year old; in a bid to escape from the invasion, got trapped and paralyzed in both legs in the swampy forest. She was later found and carried to a hospital in Warri but died the next day. The ‘Amaokosuowei’ (the oldest man in Ayakoromo), Pa Emone Tuedon, 119-year old, was shot in the leg by soldiers and is currently recuperating in a hospital in Warri. Some casualties are still in coma in various hospitals in Warri. Some may face permanent disabilities, while others might eventually be sent to their early graves.

Surely, we are at a loss finding a correlation between searching for criminals and the heartless massacre of defenseless and harmless children, women and men by a supposedly-responsible government. No civilized military in the world will invade its own territory, kill, maim indigenes and raze down houses of innocent citizens under the guise of arresting a criminal.

Every professional army with the awesome intelligence at its disposal, even in war-torn territories will not take to this barbarity because every military expedition is guided by operational directives or rules of engagement e.g the protection of the life of the innocent. In this case, it is heart-rending to note that a military that committed such enormous tragedy rushed to the press in order to mislead the public and the presidency; and prevented the media from getting on-the-scene reports. It is spurious and laughable for the JTF to claim that all the children, old women and men of over 70 years casualties were militants; even the oldest man in the community. Is the house of the father of a Texas-based Rev. Fr. Mathias Selemobiri a militant camp? What about the houses of Late (Pa) T. O. Onduku (JP) and Mr. S. K. Kokole (a retired head of personnel management in Delta State), were these militant camps or were they on the coast line? What about the Customary Court, the Post Office, the Health Centre, were they all militant camps? The issue that all of them were burnt down begs for answers! If we believe in the omniscience of God, we shall one day face the consequences of our treachery! Governance has really failed in Nigeria. How do we build the faith of our growing children in the Nigerian project when lies have become our national watchword! It is on record that Obasanjo burnt down Odi and Odioma; Yar’Adua burnt down Gbaramatu Kingdom and now, President Goodluck Jonathan is making history with Ayakoromo community.

We hold the Federal Government of Nigeria and particularly the National Security Agency (NSA) under President Goodluck Jonathan and National Security Adviser, General Owoeye Azazi (rtd) respectively, responsible for the tragedy that has befallen Ayakoromo community. Our generation and generations yet unborn will not forget or forgive them. This is because we thought the prejudice demonstrated against the Niger Delta people has gone for good with this dispensation. The policy of suppression, exploitation and oppression of the weak Niger Delta people has been defined by race and power. Power really has blinded even our brothers! It has been the collective dream of every Ijaw man for Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to be the next elected President of Nigeria, but by allowing the JTF to trespass his executive responsibility as Commander-in-Chief and his attendant ominous silence after the massacre, he has betrayed us. We are truly disappointed in Mr. President’s silence over the massacre. We assure him, Mr. President and General Azazi that they may rule as long as God permits but AYAKOROMO COMMUNITY WILL RISE AGAIN AND OUTLIVE THEM!

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PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANTS STONED IN BAYELSA

Plans to disrupt the Congress for Progressive Change’s Presidential Rally in Bayelsa State failed, as loyalist of the party contained the unruly behavior of some hired thugs, who hauled bottles, stones and other missile on the former president, Muhammadu Buhari and his entourage from Abuja.

The campaign held at the popular Amarata football field was hijacked by the thugs, which led to injuries sustained by mostly women and few men before it was contained by the loyalist of the Congress for Progressive Change.

Though there was a heavy presence of the police at the rally, but they were unable to handle the situation until loyalist of the CPC governorship candidate, Famous Daunemighan marched the thugs and over power them to ensure the continuation of the programme.
The leader of the thugs was thoroughly beaten up before he was handed over to the police.

Unconfirmed sources averred that the planned attack to disrupt the rally by the thugs could be traced to some politicians in the state.
The CPC Presidential candidate, Buhari was unperturbed by the action of the thugs, but he and his entourage, as well as the governorship candidate were calm, as they sat at the extreme end of the campaign ground.

In his address, Buhari said he was impressed by the turn out of party supporters; and charged them to register when the Independent National Electoral Commission begins registration exercise in the country.

“Ensure your votes count. All our slogans towards positive change in the country would not materialize unless we do these things,” he said.

He said the CPC was aware of the problems of confronting the country and would bring a positive change, whereby security of all Nigerian would be enthrone to enable the citizenry pursue their legal business.

The former president who did not refer to the attack that had briefly disrupted the rally, said he would tackle indiscipline and corruption
Buhari averred that if voted as president, he would ensure that jobs are created for Nigerians, revamp the railway, airport and the shipping line operation, as well as evolve a scheme that would provide housing for the masses.

He, however, handed the party registration card to Daunemigha, a former member of the Peoples Democratic Party and special adviser to the Bayelsa State Governor on mobilization, to formally welcome him to the CPC.

Responding, Daunemigha averred that he and his supporters would not be scared or intimidated, as they have mapped out and inroad for the overall development and positive change that would promote human and physical growth and prosperity of the state.

Meanwhile, The Bayelsa Government has condemned the action carried out by the miscreant to that almost disrupt the rally, but for the intervention of the CPC loyalist, even as they regretted that the governor, being the chief security officer of the state should be in the know of the rally.

The statement reads: We condemn this act with every force at our command; we are at a loss as to why neither Buhari nor his managers thought it fit to inform the State Government of his campaign visit to Bayelsa. As a former Head of State, protocol demands that the State Government be in the know.

The government expressed displeasure that Governor Timipre Sylva was only informed about General Buhari’s visit only after the unfortunate incident at the rally ground.

“We consider this improper. Irrespective of differences in political party affiliation, the general and his party have to acknowledge the fact that there is a sitting governor in the state”.

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I have a vision for Bayelsa, says guber aspirant Ombeh

BARR. GEORGE OMBEH

 A governorship aspirant in Bayelsa state under the People's Democratic Party (PDP) Barr. George Ombeh says his vision is to place the state as the best stable state with an enabling environment for investment if voted to power come 2011.

Barr. Ombeh who hails from Ekeremor in Ekeremor Local Government Area stated this in a round table discussion with newsmen at his campaign office along Captain Ayeni Street, Kpansia in Yenagoa the state capital.

He noted that to provide a business friendly environment and reposition the state's civil service as well as public office holders for partnership with the private sector to create a self sustaining economy independent of oil and gas informed his aspiration to be in Creek Haven in 2011.
He further noted that his manifesto would be aligned with the Federal Government's 7-point agenda to ensure economic development, human capital development and sustainable peace and security.

What Bayelsa needs at the moment, he said, is a leader who is capable to re-orient the mindset of the people towards hard work, industry, investment, accountability and transparency so as to cope effectively with post oil and gas era.

Barr. Ombeh who is currently the Government Relations Advisor in the Policy, Government and Public Affairs (PGPA) department of Chevron Nigeria Limited said “I have a burden in my heart because I see a big gap between the Bayelsa today and the Bayelsa of twenty-five years to come when oil and gas will be no more”.

Rather than running after money, the politician urged Bayelsans to vote a man like him who is visionary and has the leadership qualities to take the state to greater heights.

He reposed confidence in the one-man-one-vote being authored by President Jonathan, adding that the President should be supported and commended for his effort towards ensuring free, fair and credible elections in 2011.

He also thanked the national leadership of the People's Democratic Party as well as INEC for annulling the illegally constituted Bayelsa state exco of the PDP, pointing out that the development shows the readiness of the electoral authorities to conduct acceptable polls in next year's general elections.

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Guber race: Ekiyegha takes campaign to Amassoma

HON. FRED EKIYEGHA

The campaign organization of Hon. Fred Ekiyegha, a governorship aspirant under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State Sunday stormed Amassoma town in Southern Ijaw LGA to garner support for the aspirant.

On arrival, the campaign team rallied round the riverine community amidst campaign songs which attracted hundreds of people as they eventually converged at the Government Secondary Field.

Addressing the crowd, Assistant Director of the Hon Fred Ekiyegha campaign organization, Hon Endley Ngobowerighe expressed satisfaction over the large turn out of the people, stressing that it indicated their acceptability of the choice of Ekiyegha as next governor of the state.

The Assistant Director described Hon Ekiyegha as a tested and proven politician, noted that as the first Sagbama Federal Constituency delegate to the defunct 1988/89 Constituency Assembly, Hon Ekiyegha moved several people oriented motions that brought development to the state.

While calling on the people to support the gubernatorial aspirant, the Assistant Campaign Director said all Bayelsans would have a sense of pride and belonging if they vote Hon. Ekiyegha as governor of the state in 2011.

“The disgraceful educational system will be revamped, all the senatorial roads will be completed, clean drinking water will be provided, micro-finance banks will be established in all LGAs to link the micro-economy to the macro-economy, and there will be massive rural transformation to create conducive living condition for the people if Ekiyegha is voted to power” He said.

If given the mandate to serve, he said Hon Ekiyegha would also lay emphases on economic development and employment generation, the health institutions as well as electricity supply.

Community and youth leaders, representatives of different social-political groups also spoke, lending their total support for Hon Fred Ekiyegha in the 2011 governorship election in the state.

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BAYELSA STATE? STATE OF EMERGENCY? - NIDDEMCOW

CIVIL SOCIETY group, Niger Delta Development Monitoring and Corporate Watch (NIDDEMCOW) says the worrisome acts of terrorism in Bayelsa State, the home state of President Goodluck Jonathan, could trigger a state of emergency in the area.

The Executive Director of the group, Nengi James, in an on-line statement to AkanimoReports on Monday claimed that ''desperate power seekers’’ are bent on plunging the state into a deeper violent crisis.

They were speaking against the backdrop of incessant bombing of targeted politicians’ houses as uncertainties mount over the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) electoral tickets.

James said the group strongly condemned the incessant attacks on the country homes of prominent Bayelsa indigenes. Their condemnation is coming on the heels of the recent attack of the country home of Timi Alaibe, Special Adviser to President Jonathan on Niger Delta Affairs at Opokuma town in the Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area.

According to them, ''before now, there have been attacks on the homes of Edmund Daukoru, the Speaker, of the state House of Assembly, Nestor Binabo, Rufus Abadi, (Major) Adigio, Amalatei Turner, a royal father, Waripamowei Dudafa, former Deputy Governor, Peremobowei Ebebi and Reginald Dede''.

While warning that a groundwork is being laid for an emergency rule in the state, they urged the Timipre Sylva administration to urgently identify the causative motives of the attackers adding, the duty of
government is to protect lives and property of citizens''.

NIDDEMCOW said they are of the view that the way of violence in the oil and gas region, is for government to frontally tackle the problem of youth unemployment and a remodification of the Amnesty Programme as well as the implementation of the Ledum Mitee-led Niger Delta Technical Committee report.

''These measures are very vital for peace to reign in the Niger Delta '', the group said, and accordingly called on government and the security agencies to live up to their expectations.


Continuing, they said, ''these attacks are coming barely few months to the 2011 general elections. It is surprising that politicians in Bayelsa, President Jonathan's home state, are not playing the game according to the rules and without rancor and acrimony''

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JTF dislodges militant camp in Bayelsa

JTF

The Niger Delta special security forces, the Joint Task Force codenamed Operation Restore Hope have raided a militant camp allegedly operated by one Keiti Sese also known as Commander Nomukeme (mad man) in Forupa community on the Atlantic fringe of the Bayelsa State.

But the militant leader, the target of the special forces’ invasion of the coastal settlement of Forupa narrowly escaped arrest. He was said to have fled through the mangrove creek following a tip-off by his supposed loyalists. However, soldiers have reportedly taken over his camp as base.

BOF gathered that the military action ordered by the Federal Government against acts of terrorism and resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta which was made public, weekend, may have commenced in the first week of November as men of JTF swooped on the militant camp at Forupa on November 8 leading to the dislodgement of the group allegedly terrorising the community.

It was, however, learnt that the JTF met stiff resistance from the camp as they were engaged in exchange of gunfire that lasted about 10 minutes before the militants capitulated to the superior fire power to soldiers.

Two members of the camp were reportedly nabbed by the JTF which also discovered unspecified number of arms, a 3d seismic programme map used in tracking routes of oil pipelines in the area as well as list of over 36 registered members of the group.

According to a statement by the Commander of JTF, Major-General Charles Omoregie, other items recovered at the camp include, identification cards of five militants supposed to have also allegedly embraced the amnesty programme.

The camp, reportedly opened last year by ”Commander Noukeme” was located at the Corpers’ Lodge and medical facility in the area allegedly seized by the group.

The JTF Commander, in the statement stressed that the military action became imperative following the incessant complaints by indigenes of the troubled Foropa community on the atrocities of the group.

“Keiti Sese alias Commander Nomukeme “mad man” had indeed, become a thorn in the flesh of Foropa and neighbouring communities,” he added.

But, Keiti Sese, alias ”Commander Nomukeme” in a statement issued from his hide-out and made available to newsmen, weekend, accused JTF of trying to kill him on the alleged orders of some ex-militant leaders benefiting from the alleged huge illegal bunkering business in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.

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COURT RESTRAINS JTF, SSS FROM HARASSING ACTIVISTS

The Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State l, has ordered the Joint Task Force (JTF), a special security outfit, and the State Securityn Service (SSS) to stop violating the fundamental human rights of Nengi James, a community and public accountability activist.

James had gone to the court, praying it to shield him from alleged acts of impunity by security agents. The court also ruled that Victor Eziogu, an Army Colonel, should be restrained from harassing, intimidating and arresting the Niger Delta activist.

The court ordered the SSS, JTF and Eziogu not to infringed on his fundamental human rights any longer.
James had sought the court's intervention to stop the defendants from inviting him or questions and holding him over an alleged illicit oil business by the some principal officers of JTF in the region which he caused to be published in the newspapers.

Ruling on the matter, Justice R. M. Aikawa of the Federal High Court Yenagoa restrained the security agents from further invitation, interrogations and arrest of the Mr. Nengi James.

James had accused the SSS, JTF and Eziogu of involving in illegal oil deal in the region, adding that the said commanders had acquired a dredging machine in Brass River.

He equally called on defense Headquarter and other relevant agencies to investigate the allegation level against on the officers but, the security operatives invited the activist for defense of his claims to their office, which the activists declined and went into hiding for the fairs of possible arrest and detention.

Several phone calls were put through by the security operatives inviting Mr. James for defense on the allegation.

Counsel to petitioner, Makbere Osom Jacob, on Wednesday expressed delight on the judgment and lauded the judiciary for its intelligent and maturity in handling the matter before it.

Speaking to BOF shortly after the ruling, the plaintiff a former acting president of IYC lauded the judiciary for upholding justices in the country, described the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.

He claimed that he went to court to seek for legal protection because the security operatives had in the past tortured detained and arrested him in Port Harcourt and Abuja for similar matter, adding that during the days of his hiding, his fundamental Rights were violated as his freedom of movement; associations and fair hearing were infringed.

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