Regent Youmor, ex-president of the Ijaw community in Lagos, says Nigerian youths must listen to the voice of reason and end violence.

Mr Youmor gave the charge in Lagos against the backdrop of the recent communal clash that led to the killing of at least 17 soldiers in Okuama in Delta.

He also said elders and community leaders must do their best to control and properly guide youths within their communities to promote unity and peaceful co-existence.

Mr Youmor said it was time for Nigerian youths to abandon all forms of insecurity, insurgency, and other crimes and vices and join hands to take their communities and Nigeria at large to the next level of development.

Mr Youmor, also the chairman of the Bomadi community in Lagos, appealed to youths in Okuama and the environs to avoid crises.

On March 14, at least 17 military personnel from 181 Amphibious Battalion were ambushed and killed in Okuama Town in Ughelli South LGA while responding to a distress call following a communal clash.

Mr Youmor regretted incessant communal clashes between the Okuama community and its neighbour, Okoloba.

“The youths must be called to order,” he said in an interview. “Enough is enough. Our youths must listen to the wise counsel. These attacks must stop. We are not animals. We are not killers.”

Mr Youmor appealed to elders and community leaders to commit to guiding the youth well to reduce communal clashes and other forms of violence.

“We can’t disown them. They are our children, but we must tell them the truth and regulate their conduct. We don’t tolerate criminal activities. We don’t condone criminality,” he said.

Mr Youmor appealed to the military to observe due diligence while searching for the killers of its personnel in Okuama.

He added, “Let only those who committed the crime be brought to book. Let the innocent be spared.”

(NAN)