Following the ongoing military onslaught against militants in the Niger Delta region, some Ijaw living in coastal areas of Ondo State have begun fleeing their communities for fear of being attacked by the men of the Joint Task Force.
A community leader in Arogbo, in Ese-Odo Local Government Area of the state, Mr. Suffy Eleitu-Uguoji, told our correspondent in an interview on Saturday that women and children had started leaving the riverine areas for fear of being attacked by the soldiers who were searching for militants.
Another Ijaw man, John, also buttressed the claim of exodus of Ijaw from coastal areas of the state. He said that his mother had left their community with the children living with her due to the fear of possible attack of the community by soldiers.
Eleitu-Uguoji who is the National Coordinator of the Ijaw Consultative Forum blamed the indiscriminate attack of civilian settlements in Delta State for the apprehension among Ijaw people all over the country.
He added that the people were afraid because they believed that the men of the JTF were looking for Ijaw people since it was difficult to distinguish a militant from innocent civilians.
He explained that although community leaders were appealing to people in their areas not to panic, he stated that it was not possible to prevent them from fleeing due to the news of killing and maiming of innocent civilians in Ijaw communities in Delta State.
He said, “Although we have not seen either military presence nor militants‘ presence in our communities the people are afraid and they are leaving, especially the women and the children.
“They are afraid because militancy is not written on anybody‘s face and it will be almost impossible to know who is a militant among the crowd. So, on our part, we are assuring them not to run away because they could run into danger but they are not persuaded.
“That is why we are appealing to President Umaru Yar‘Adua to restrain the men of the Joint Task Force from attacking the Ijaw people.
“With this development, even if the soldiers wipe out all the militants today more militants will still rise up if our areas are not developed.”
The Special Adviser to the Ondo State Governor on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Bekekimi Idiarhi, told our correspondent on the telephone that he was not aware of movement of Ijaw in Ondo State to safer places. But he said that there was palpable fear among the Ijaw people living along the coast from Ondo State to Akwa Ibom State .
Idiarhi said, “I don‘t know of the movement because I have not been told but there could be scampering because there is this fear that the military could come into our communities but this has not happened. There is general apprehension among our people but we are appealing to them to remain calm.”