Bayelsa state governor, Seriake Dickson, has expressed fears that a
replay of the Odi massacre in the state in 1999 may happen if the
militants in the state continue to kill soldiers. Just yesterday, three
soldiers were killed by some militants in the state.
Over 100 people including women and children were killed after former
President Obasanjo allegedly ordered the military to attack Odi people
on November 20th 1999 following the killing of 12 soldiers by some
militant in the state.Seriake’s fears is expressed in a statement released today by his Chief Press secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson
“The Bayelsa State governor has condemned in very strong terms, the
recent unprovoked attack and killing of four security personnel in Nembe
Creek and three Naval personnel in Foropa community in Nembe and
Southern Ijaw local government areas of the state and other parts of the
Niger Delta region. According to him, such unwarranted attacks on the
nation’s security personnel were putting the state and the region in bad
light, and also putting the innocent ones in the state and the Niger
Delta region in danger. While warning that the government of Bayelsa
State does not want a replay of the Odi massacre in 1999, during the
administration of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, where only the
innocent people suffered the brunt of the military invasion, the
governor called on community leaders and other stakeholders to check the
activities of youths in their domains. As part of the steps to check
the activities of the youths, the unwholesome trend and improve the
security situation in the state, he said community leaders, elders and
other stakeholders would be summoned to a meeting at a date to be
announced later”the statement read
