Residents Flee Bayelsa Community As Group Declares ‘Niger Delta Republic’

It has been gathered that residents of Kaiama community in Kolokuma Opukuma Local Council, Bayelsa State, where the Adaka Boro Avengers threatened to proclaim the Niger Delta Republic today, have started trooping out of the community for fear of hostilities with security agencies.

Speaking on the development, spokesman of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Mr. Eric Omare, said the action embarked on by the residents is regrettable as this is coming on the on the current attacks on Ijaw people in the South West, as a result of the expiration of an ultimatum issued by the Reformed Odua Peoples’ Congress (OPC), following attacks by unknown gunmen in parts of Lagos and Ogun States.


Mr Omare however, appealed to residents of Kaiama to remain calm and go about their normal activities, adding that the Adaka Boro Avengers’ threat be ignored as no plans of secession by the Ijaw people.

The IYC also implored security agencies to stop threats and attacks on Ijaw and other Niger Delta communities because of the activities of faceless groups.

“The Ijaw nation has a leadership and they should check with the leadership on issues of security, instead of threatening or attacking the innocent,” it said.

Meanwhile, the IYC have issued a stern warning to the OPC members and the leadership of the Yoruba nation to stop attacks on the people of Ijaw in the South West and allow security agents perform their constitutional duty of apprehending criminals responsible for the Ogun and Lagos attacks.

“As at this morning, information at the disposal of the IYC indicate that some Ijaw people in Lagos and Ogun States, for fear of attack, are already relocating to the South South.

“The IYC seriously warns against attacks on innocent Ijaw people in the South West, as it would result in reprisals in the South-South where Yoruba people are also resident. An inter-ethnic clash between the Ijaw and Yoruba is totally unnecessary.

“The Ogun and Lagos attacks are clear cases of criminality and should be treated as such, instead of threatening to attack innocent Ijaw people and their businesses,” Omare said.