The Ijaw National Congress has condemned the raid by the Nigerian Army on the country home of Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark in Kiagbodo, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.

This is contained in a statement by President, INC, Prof Benjamin Okaba, in Abuja on Saturday.

Mr Okaba said the raid by the military on the country home of 97-year-old leader of Pam-Niger Delta Forum came to the INC as a rude shock.

He said this was because the elder statesman only leads a life of service to his community and country, wondering why he would be treated with such disrespect.

According to him, the raid, which Clark described as an “invasion,” occurred on March 23 and the soldiers said they were tracking the fleeing suspected in the recent murder of soldiers at Okuama, Delta.

“The search, which was conducted in the most arduous and harrowing manner, came with harassment and physical torture of relatives, aides and other occupants of the compound.

“The property was attacked from the air, land and water.  It’s shocking because not even Escobar, Anini or the dreaded Oyenusi of old were treated in such a gruesome manner.”

The INC president recalled that on September 4, 2018, a similar raid was carried out on Clark’s home in Abuja.

He added that like the current one, nothing incriminating was found in his house. 

“The INC is at loss why a 97-year-old man who heads a life of service to his community and country would be treated with such ignominy, disrespect and contempt.

“Pa EK Clark has never been a violent person. He is not known to own a catapult or jack-knife in all his life.

“He is rather a lawyer, crusader for justice, equity and fairness across Nigeria. He speaks for the voiceless and powerless. An incurable defender of the defenceless,” he said.

Mr Okaba said it was therefore the position of the INC that the actions by the Nigerian establishment was not accidental or based on wrong intelligence as they want it to be.

According to him, to the INC, these are deliberate actions to silence, cow, intimidate, and cajole one of the loudest and credible voices in the South-South and the Niger Delta Region.

“The INC came to the conclusion, after observing that not a single person in the other regions of Nigeria with such social standing and connections to their people like EK Clark has been subjected to such humiliating and tortuous treatment.

“Not even those that came out boldly to identify themselves as friends and ransom collectors for kidnappers and bandits. These actions by the Nigerian state are totally unacceptable. Nigeria belongs to all of us.

“Nobody should be treated as a second class citizen, not the least a man of honour like EK Clark, a revered and respected Izon icon”, he said.

Insisting that a public apology be rendered to Clark and the military, he said the Federal Government should take responsibility for fixing the damage caused during the raid and cautioned against a recurrence.  

(NAN)