At least two persons have been reportedly injured in an Ijaw Community in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State after Navy personnel fired shots into Naifor Island.
The victims identified as Mr and Mrs Tiemo, it was gathered, were among Gbaramatu residents who fled their homes during last Saturday’s military raid of Oporoza town.
Following the incident, aggrieved villagers took the wounded victims to the Navy base, which is directly opposite Naifor Island, and requested that they be treated.
The Navy, however, dismissed the allegation saying it was a mere rumour that could not be substantiated.
The Ijaw Youth Council, the umbrella body of Ijaw youths worldwide, in a statement yesterday said the activities of soldiers in Ijaw communities of Delta and Bayelsa States would lead to genocide.
The group’s spokesman, Eric Omare, said the people, especially women and children were in serious danger of mass death if they were not urgently rescued from the rampaging soldiers.
“In parts of Ogbe-Ijoh, especially the Naifor Island (Opposite Warri), the Navy throughout the night of May 30th to May 31st, shot continuously into the communities and in the process, a couple (Mr and Mrs Tiemo) were critically wounded.
“Ironically this couple only recently ran to Naifor Island to escape the military onslaught.
“The villagers in desperation took the critically injured couple to the Navy base where they left them for the Navy to do whatever they wanted to do with the couple.
“The state of this couple from Ayakoromo Community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State is still unknown as of the time of issuing this statement”, the statement added.
Navy sources however said the IYC allegation was untrue.
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