The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) on Monday condemned recent attacks on Lagos and Ogun communities and urged security agencies to bring those behind the act to book.

The youth group noted that arrest and prosecution of the culprits to others.

The IYC made its stance known in a statement issued by its Spokesman and availed to newsmen in Yenagoa.

The statement said: “The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) disassociates Ijaw people and groups from the incessant attacks and killing of innocent Nigerians in Lagos and Ogun States by criminal elements.

“The reported attacks and killings are purely criminal and the IYC in strong terms condemn such criminal conducts irrespective of who is involved.

“However, we state clearly that the persons carrying out these criminal attacks are not Ijaw people and it is absolutely wrong for the media to refer to them as Ijaw militants.

“The sensational headlines and impression been created is that it is Ijaw people or groups that are carrying out organised attacks and killing of people in some Lagos and Ogun communities.

“The Ijaw people indigenous to and living in the south western part of Nigeria are peaceful and law abiding people and can never be involved in attacking communities and killing people.

“The Ijaw people also have not at any time met and agreed to attack communities and kill people in Lagos and Ogun states.”

The youth group urged the media to accurately report events to avoid unnecessary inter-ethnic crisis between ethnic groups whose people were killed and the Ijaw people indigenous to and living in the South West.

IYC noted inter-ethnic crises between ethnic groups are not in the interest of Nigeria adding that the media must guide against it by responsible reportage to promote national unity.

•Photo shows IYC President Udengs Eradiri.

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