MOSOP condemns killings, burning of Church, Mosque by Hausa/Eleme youths
*As Rivers people live in fear
The apex socio-cultural organisation of Ogonis, the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, MOSOP, in Rivers State, has condemned in strong terms, the violence unleashed on Akpako in Onne, Eleme local government area occasioning the death of two persons, burning of a Church and a Mosque by rampaging Hausa and Eleme youths on Monday.
In a statement signed by Mr. Bari-ara Kpalap, Media/Public Affairs Advisor of MOSOP, the body called on the police high command in the state to effect a thorough and comprehensive investigation into the incident as well as ensure adequate security for the people.
Reacting to the violence, the President of MOSOP, Mr. Legborsi Saro Pyagbara, according to the statement, condemned the fight saying, “It is saddening and unfortunate that Ogoni is in the news again for the wrong reason especially at this time that peace was gradually coming into the area. Violence remains an ill wind that blows no one any good hence the resort to dialogue in settling disputes remains the ideal option.
“The right to life is an inalienable right protected by the Nigerian constitution (as amended) and other international instruments. No matter the degree of whatever may have been the grievance, the perpetrators had no right to have taken the lives of the victims.
“Whilst we sympathise with the families of the deceased, and pray God to give them the fortitude to bear the irreversible loss, we call on the people to be calm and resist all temptations to take laws into their hands as efforts are being made to amicably resolve the conflicting issues,” MOSOP President said.
Meanwhile, other people of Rivers state have called on the security operatives in the state, to live up to expectations by ensuring that the fight between some Eleme and Hausa youths did not occur again.
Some of residents who spoke with Daily Times over the issue said they no longer slept with their eyes closed for fear of a repeat of the incident which they described as an ugly development.
A businessman in Eleme who simply gave his name as Mr. Ochulor said that if the violence was not properly curtailed by security operatives, the situation might escalate into a full blown fight between the Hausas and the people of Eleme, their host community.
Mr. Ochulor explained that given the tense situation in the country over the quit notice issued to the Igbo communities living in the North by the Arewa youths and the consequent hate speeches arising from other regions of the country, might lead to another civil war.
He said that most people in the area were going about their legitimate businesses in fear, adding that the situation had created a lull in businesses in the affected area.
Another businessman in Port Harcourt, Mr. Paul Odiuno, said that the state might be sitting on a keg of gun powder, pointing out that the fight could spread to other parts of the state if mismanaged by security operatives.
A civil servant who prefers anonymity appealed to the Hausa and Eleme youths to bury their hatchets and give peace a chance and desist from taking the law into their hands.
Trouble was said to have erupted when Hausa traders at the Agbako Park, Eleme allegedly refused to pay their ‘daily levies’ to the Eleme youths believed to be a tax force.
The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, of the Rivers State Police Command, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, who confirmed the incident, said a Church and a Mosque were burnt in the course of the ensuing rampage.
He said: “Yes, I can confirm that incident. Details are still sketchy. Trouble started when youths from Eleme approached the Hausa traders at Agbako Park to pay up the daily levies which the youths appeared to have been collecting for some time.”
DSP Omoni stated: “The fracas led to the burning of a Church and a Mosque. I have contacted the Divisional Police Officer of Eleme Police Station to get a detailed briefing of what actually transpired. But for now we have beefed up surveillance in the area.”
