Ex-militant Leaders Give Navy Ultimatum To Quit Ondo Riverine Areas - Sun Newspaper

                                       

Ex-militants in riverine areas of Ondo State yesterday gave a two-week ultimatum to all navy personnel attached to Igbokoda Forward Operational Base to vacate the area or face the wrath of the people. The ex-militants’ marching order came on the heel of the bloody clash between local youths and naval officers, which led to the death of six youths while many others sustained injuries.

Some youths suspected to be militants wanted to force themselves into the naval base on Sunday afternoon to loot the empowerment materials kept at the base by a member of the House of Representatives representing Ilaje-Eseodo Federal Constituency, Raphael Nomiye.   

Two of the ex-militant leaders, Dele Olaoluwa and Victor Semore who spoke on behalf of other ex-militants in the area in a telephone chat with Daily Sun described the action of the naval officers as barbaric. The two leaders, who were also relations of two of the deceased, Afro Medoye and Sina Ogono ‘aka Rambo’, warned the officers to comply with the two-week ultimatum.

Meanwhile, police spokesman, Adeniran Aremu (DSP), said the police, army and other security operatives had sent more reinforcement to the areas to forestall possible breakdown of law and order. Aremu said the security operatives had alsoappealed to elders and leaders in the area to maintain peace. He said security operatives were on ground to maintain peace and protect lives and property.    

The ex-militant leaders also called on President Goodluck Jonathan to order the immediate transfer of the naval officers in the area, saying it was the only panacea to avert bloodshed. They said the action of the naval officers contravened the Federal Government’s efforts to eradicate militancy and ensure relative peace in the Niger Delta region. The duo said they were not calling for the relocation of the Naval Base from Igbokoda but that the present officers in the base be transferred to avoid further bloodshed.

They alleged that the Naval Forward Operational Base (FOB) at Igbokoda had been politicised, adding that some of the officers attached to the base were now reporting to high profile politicians in the state.
They vowed to avenge the killing of their colleagues if government failed to hearken to their demands. “We will go to any length to avenge the death of our people. We will do everything to tell the naval officers that they have wronged us. If it requires that we go spiritual, we will not hesitate to do so.”