By Francis Sadhere
The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwidehas demanded for the immediate release of the ten youths from Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta State who were arrested at Oporoza town during the military invasion of the community and ex-militant leader, Mr. Aboy Francis Muturu.
IYC said these persons have been in military detention without trial, steesaing that it was “unconstitutional and unlawful for the military to arrest and dump people at their detention facilities without trial.”
The groups spokesperson, Barrister Eric Omare made this demand in a press statement made available to our correspondent in Warri, yesterday.
He said, “Nigeria operates a constitutional democracy, hence actions of security agencies including the fight against insurgency in the Niger Delta region must be done within the ambit of the law.
“The IYC is in support of any legitimate fight against criminality in the Niger Delta region. However, such fight must be done within the ambit of the rule of law and respect for human rights.
“Anybody accused of an offence is presumed innocent until proved otherwise by the court. The military has no power to arrest anybody including the ten Gbaramatu youths, Mr. Francis Muturu and any other Nigerian without trial.
“The 10 youths from Gbaramtu Kingdom have been in detention for more than two months and in the case of Mr. Francis Muturu, his where about is unknown up till this moment since he was arrested by the military in the presence of his nursing wife on the 9th of June, 2016 at Bomadi town in Bomadi local government Area of Delta State.
“If the military has evidence of commission of crime against the Oporoza 10 and Mr. Francis Muturu, we demand that they should be charged to court and let the court determine their guilt or innocence.
“Otherwise, the IYC demand that they should be release without further delay. The fight against insurgency in the Niger Delta should not be used as a subterfuge to punish innocent people.”
