PORT HARCOURT — LEADER of the Niger Delta Vigilante (NDV), Comrade Ateke Tom has raised an alarm, charging that his men are under attack in Okrika in spite of the fact that "I gave an outstanding order to all my men to be very calm and not to engage in any act capable of threatening the existing peace in the area."
In a statement in Port Harcourt, Tom said, "in the early part of October 2004, when we returned from the peace meeting brokered by President Olusegun Obasanjo in Aso Villa, Abuja, the Rivers State Government also set up a peace committee made up of all interest groups.
"We want to state categorically that since the peace accord in Okrika, in respect of our resolution, I gave an outstanding order to all my men to be very calm and not to engage in any act capable of threatening the existing peace in the area but, contrary to this, some mischievous persons in Okrika have continued to fuel the crisis in the area through the sponsorship of physical and psychological terrorism against my men."
He cited instances where his men had been molested in Ogoloma, Kalio-Ama, Ogan, Dutch Island and Ibaka.
His words: "In these aforementioned communities, some members of the Niger Delta Vigilante have constantly been under attacks and threats by some mischief-makers who have now resorted to sponsoring physical attacks and constantly intimidating and blackmailing these boys who are peace-loving members of the Niger Delta Vigilante. We think that such an avoidable conflict is uncalled for."
"He charged that some highly placed persons in Okrika are behind the attacks, saying that the alleged attackers have "resorted to the use of other rival groups in Okrika to unleash mayhem against members of the Niger Delta Vigilante in order to provoke them and force them to react.
"Some of the results of this avoidable act of terrorism against my men and myself are the beating up of, and destruction of the house of Comrade Ina Olunge, Chairman of Ibaka Youths in Okrika and series of other violent acts and injury against other members of NDV."
He called for a halt to "street violence and gangsterism," adding: "We are rejecting violence" but embracing marching, singing, speaking out for peace, lighting candles and standing up for peace.
"In this respect, we demands that that all warring factions in the renewed violence in Okrika, Port Harcourt et cetera should lay down their arms and embrace peace since no society in the world can develop without peace."
