N-Delta Youths Demand Apology, Compensation for Clark over Troops Raid on Residence 

By Ezekiel Kagbala

A sociopolitical group in the Niger Delta region, the Niger Delta Youth Council (NDYC), has expressed disgust over what it described as "a senseless invasion and raid" of the Kiagbodo country home of Chief Edwin Clark, by military troops in search of arms, and demanded for "unreserved apology and compensation" for the trauma caused the former Federal Commissioner for Information, by the incident.

The Council also warned against "the antics of trying to drag the entire Niger Delta into the killings of 17 officers and soldiers in Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area".

These were contained in a statement signed by its President, Comrade Bene Youkore Mamamu, copies of which were made available to journalists in Warri, Delta State, on Thursday, March 28, 2023.

The statement urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to, "as a matter of urgency, direct the Chief of Amy Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, to tender an unreserved public apology for the disrespectful infamy of the invading soldiers".

While stoutly condemning the troops' raid on the Kiagbodo residence of the South South Leader, the Council maintained that "the action was intimidating and disrespectful to the rights of Chief Edwin Clark's personality, a man who served Nigeria for almost 70 years in various capacities".

The statement partly reads, "We do not want to believe that such an action is deliberately orchestrated to undermine the Niger Delta leader who is deeply saddened over the senseless and most barbaric killing of the 17 Nigerian soldiers in Okuama. 

"We want to also state categorically that we will not accept such disrespectful action against our father.  The Nigerian government should allow the old man to enjoy his graceful old age in peace.

"We demand a public apology to Chief Papa Edwin Clark for the trauma and life-threatening tension that he must have faced. 

"The Federal Government of Nigeria should compensate and make provisions for his health care to enable him to recover from the trauma he must have suffered as a result of the invasion of his home by some soldiers who were said to be acting on non-existing intelligence.

"We also warn against the antics of trying to drag the entire Niger Delta into the killings of 17 military officers and soldiers in Okuama. 
"We again, as we have always done, condemn the killings of our soldiers and support investigations and demand that culprits should be made to face the consequences of their actions.

"While the Council awaits an apology to Chief EK Clark, we make bold to state that Niger Delta people are saddened that innocent people are suffering for crimes they did not commit and we also feel that there is a deliberate plot to provoke Niger Deltans. It is pertinent to state that we are peaceful, friendly and law-abiding and will not support any form of misdeed".

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