The World Assembly of Youth (WAY) at the weekend condemned the spate of kidnapping and hostage taking in Niger Delta resulting to recent death of a British aid worker in Delta.

Mr Preye Ketebu-Brown, Vice President of WAY told newsmen in Yenagoa that the death of Mr Ian Squire, British Optician, humanitarian and lover of Africa came as a shock to the youth body.

The youth leader noted that the trend of violence against non-combatant, unarmed civil populations in Africa calls for deep soul searching and socio-political re-appraisal of the state of our Society.

According to him, Nigeria scores low in availability of qualified human capital to meet the medical, development needs of her huge population leaving communities highly vulnerable to all manners of diseases.

He wondered why the recipients of aid scare away rare sources of hope from humanitarian services adding that this crime signifies dangerous low levels of mental health in the society.

He observed that only the mentally disturbed will harm his or her doctor and source of hope for restoration.

“Like many other victims of the past Mr. Ian Squire and his team were here to help; to compliment our grossly limited capacity.

“They left their developed World; most comfortable homes; friends, family and loved ones to selflessly and faithfully bring us succor with their skills and knowledge, the foreign Aid Workers were here to help us.

“They set-up “Eye Clinics” for our own good! Why should they be kidnapped?” Ketebu-Brown asked.

He explained that it was regrettable that whilst several of we opinion leaders struggled tirelessly to re-brand the Niger Delta Region and indeed the Country, such acts sabotage the efforts.

He regretted that such incidents further bring stigma to the Niger Delta region and deprive our Communities from real agents of sustainable development.

“Whilst we look up to the security agencies to bring all responsible for this dastardly act to book, it is now imperative for all community youths, to declare an action-backed community-powered “ZERO-TOLERANCAE TO KIDNAPPING” in Nigeria.

“A name and shame initiative should be introduced against communities harboring Kidnappers’ den.

“All options must be on the table to arrest this ugly scourge and crime against humanity. IAN SQUIRE has paid the ultimate price and we must never allow this blood to spill on our land in vain,” Ketebu-Brown said.

The youth leader expressed condolences to the British people, the Christian Charity Mission For Vision NGO who lost its founder and the families of Ian Squire and the families of his team David Donovan, Shirley Donovan and Alanna Carson over their ordeal.

Update news