The President of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Mr. Legborsi Saro Pyagbara, has reiterated his condemnation of the military invasion in Ogoni communities that took place on Monday and Tuesday, February 22 and 23, 2016. The invasion led to the wanton destruction of lives and property in Yeghe community, including the home of former militant leader Solomon Ndigbara, the subsequent reprisal vandalisation of the campaign office of Senator Magnus Abe and loss of several lives in Bori and its environs.

The MOSOP boss berated the military for the invasion when he paid an unannounced and unscheduled visit to Yeghe and Bori on Thursday to assess the situation.

Mr. Pyagbara, while condemning the activities of criminals in the area. decried “the military campaign that had occasioned the needless loss of lives of innocent Ogoni citizens and strangers living in Ogoni.” He said: “Under no circumstance is this level of military campaign justifiable in an area that there was no visible incidence of conflict before the launch of the campaign. I was in Yeghe and Bori on Sunday; there was no crisis and there was no conflict.”

Speaking to the father of one the deceased, Mr. Justus Tambari Nwika, whose son, Mr. Joel Suanu Justus Nwika, was shot dead along Taabaa Road, Bori, the MOSOP President extended his condolences to the family, including other families who have lost their loved ones in the conflict. He assured them that justice must be done and all those involved brought to book. The MOSOP boss informed them that the organisation has already reached out to its allies both locally and internationally, particularly the United Nations, with a view to bringing the matter to their notice and to ensure appropriate redress.

Continuing, the MOSOP President called on the Federal Government to immediately direct the withdrawal of military forces from all Ogoni communities and dismantle “road blocks, which are disturbingly used as extortion and torture posts by security operatives.”

Pyagbara as well urged the government to set up a high powered commission of inquiry to investigate all issues relating to the current disastrous military occupation of Ogoniland.

He further called on well-meaning individuals and citizens to join MOSOP in condemning this heinous crime being committed against the Ogoni people by the military.

•Photo shows MOSOP President Pyagbara.

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