The umbrella body of Ijaw Youths worldwide, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide has commended the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbanjo for sacking the former Director General of the Directorate of State Security Services (DSS), Mr. Lawal Duara for the illegal invasion and blockade of the national assembly.
According to the Ijaw Youths, the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, deserved commendation for his prompt reaction which we believe will restore sanity in the activities of security agencies in Nigeria.
The Ijaw Youths, under the aegis of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), in a statement issued to newsmen via email and signed by Comrade Eric Omare, stated that the recent actions of Nigeria security agencies in recent time have attracted odium to Nigeria in the international community.
According to the Ijaw Youths, “However, the IYC further state that it is not enough for the federal government to sack the DSS boss, but an independent and thorough investigation should be carried into the incident to unravel all those that were involved the action and bring them to justice.”
” This is the only way the security apparatus of state can continue to command the respect of Nigerians and the international community.”
The IYC also noted and commended by the Ijaw Youths was the heroic role of Representative Boma Goodhead from Rivers State and younger sister to former President of the Ijaw Youth Council, Alhaji Asari Dokubo. Hon. Goodhead and other members of the national assembly who confronted the DSS officials who were on an illegal mission to the national assembly demonstrated courage which is needed to check a government inclined to dictatorship.
“For those with vindictive instinct, we wish to warn them to stay clear of Hon. Goodhead Boma as the Ijaw nation is watching. It is our expectation that the sack of Mr. Daura would bring to a stop the use of security agencies as agents of terror against citizens”
In a related development, the Ijaw Youth Council has called on the new DSS boss Mr. Matthew Seiyefa to look into the cases of illegal arrest and detention of citizens by the DSS and release Nigerians especially Niger Delta youths who have been in the detention of the DSS without trial. It would be recalled that the DSS under Mr. Daura arrested and detained several Nigerians without trial for years despite court orders demanding for the release of arrested persons.
“The recent arraignment in court of Mr. Jones Abiri, a Yenagoa based journalist after about two years of detention is a typical example. Mr. Seiyefa must ensure as a matter of urgency that Nigerians are not held in the DSS detention facilities indefinitely without been taken to court.”
