Takwa-Bay Demolition: Group call on Niger Deltans for help

We hereby call on all patriotic and well meaning Niger Deltans in general and Ijawnation in particular-those in leadership position as well as those within and beyond the corridors of power in governmental and nongovernmental organizations-to swiftly swing into action by providing aid to our displaced people during the demolition of Takwa-bay Island.

Takwa-bay Island has been the residential home of some Nigerians, and foreigners from neighbouring country. The fine Island was a home to predominantly people of Ijaw and Ilaje extractions.

They have been in the Island from time immemorial from generation to generation, doing their legitimate businesses for daily bread, until that black Wednesday, January, 22, 2020, when combined organized forces of the Federal and Lagos state governments of Nigeria sent Army unannounced, and forcefully took away their home in a commando style and left them displaced, and in disarray.

It was evident that there was a heavy and sporadic shooting aimed at residents of the island, as they take refuge inside the forest and riverbank of neighbouring Ogogoro village etc, while Caterpillars and bulldozers vandalised, bulldozed and demolished houses they built with hard earned money.

The most ridiculous part of this action is that, these said governments never care to provide alternative means of or area for resettlement.

Nevertheless, the way and manner the island was demolished by Federal and Lagos state governments of Nigeria is one of the most inhumane treatment anywhere in the world in recent times.

It’s unimaginable, how will many of those displaced people who were in their houses as landlords and landladies start over in life, when everything is gone within a blink of an eye, and they are languishing in the forest with the risks of crossing paths with dangerous reptiles. They are also now exposed to cold by the open riverbank very close to the sea in this serious harmattan season, which might weaken their immune system. The Old ones, young and infants are at very high risk in this regard.

For a government, (Federal or State), to render citizens or residents, (indigenous or none indigenous) in this civilized and modern times, only posits certain level of hatred towards a certain people.

We, therefore condemn this heartless act by the federal and Lagos state governments in it’s entirety.

It is therefore, a matter of exigency for Niger Deltans and Ijaws in particular to intervene in this ugly situation in order to shame the hardhearted and highhanded parasites that are abusing power.

Signed;

Comrade Bibi Ebibolouemi
PRO, (FIYE)

Comrade Samson O Ajagbini
President, (FIYE).

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