Civil Society Organisations in the Niger-Delta have called on agitators in the region to sheathe their swords and embrace peaceful resolutions of whatever grievance they may have.
The CSOs, at a joint media briefing in Port Harcourt, said the over fifteen years of work put in place to maintain peace in the Niger-Delta is on the verge of collapse.
Addressing journalists on behalf of the CSOs, Country Director of Social Democratic Network, Inemo Samiama said the resurgence of violence in the Niger-Delta is not in the interest of the region.
Samiama said the rising cases of murder, piracy, cult activities, kidnapping, vandalisms and other forms of conflict has a long term negative effect on the region.
He requested the federal government to shun use of violence to tackle the resurgence and adopt a long-term approach of peace building and conflict transformation in the Niger-Delta.
The CSOs called on the leaders of the region to dialogue with the youths and act as role models for the youths in the region.
According to him, “It appears the stage is set. The decorations and rehearsals are done and spectators ready for another round of war games in the Niger Delta.
“War drums are beating, the combatants with painted faces and AK-47s have re-emerged from the creeks as threats and posturing from the federal authorities take a more menacing tone everyday.
“Once again we are faced with the very notion of near collapse of the relative peace in the Niger Delta. The rising cases of crime, violence, gas and oil pipeline explosions and attacks on citizens both military and civilian is dishonouring the dignity of the victims, their families and are an incalculable loss to the nation as a whole.
“In other to prevent the continued dangers, including loss of life ans helpless members of the communities in line of the fire from both agitators and the Nigerian military. We call for caution on the part of all stakeholders.
“We therefore call on the Nigerian government to convene a meeting involving stakeholders drawn from both the civil society, community leadership and the state actors including representations of women and gender experts in line with the UNSCR 1325 to discuss the way forward as a matter of urgency.”
The Civil Society Organisations advised the Niger-Delta Development Commission, NDDC to partner with major stakeholders in other to effectively develop the Niger-Delta region.
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