MOSOP Condemns Killings In Ogoniland,Seeks Security Intervention

The Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) has condemned Sunday killings in Bori and Kono Boue communities, in Khana local government area of Rivers State ,asking security agencies to go after those involved.

MOSSOB also called on security agencies to intervene in the killings in communities in Ogoniland.

It urged the community and traditional leaders to work with the security agencies to initiate actions that would expose those behind the insecurity situation and bring back lasting peace and normalcy to the various communities.

MOSOP, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt yesterday by media aide to its President, Sunny Zorvah, said it was unfortunate that such situations are allowed to continue in Ogoni communities without the arrest and prosecution of perpetrators.

The statement reads in part: “Irked by the repulsive latest killings on Friday, May 17 in Bori, headquarters of Khana local government area and on Sunday, May 19, 2019, in Kono Bo-ue, an Ogoni community also in Khana local government area of Rivers State, the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) strongly condemns the incidents and calls on the security agencies to immediately go after all those involved in the dastardly act.

“Coming few days after what we thought was a successful strategic multi-stakeholders meeting at the instance of the Khana local government authorities, the incidents are so disheartening that MOSOP is of the view that something more drastic with utmost sincerity and commitment of all categories of leaders and security personnel be brought on board to deal with the escalating insecurity situation in Ogoniland.

“This killing is one too many and it’s quite sad and unfortunate that situations like these are allowed to continue in our communities without the arrest and prosecution of perpetrators, both the criminals and sponsors of the unjustifiable massacre of innocent citizens’’.

Reports have it that unidentified gunmen, on Friday invaded part of Bori Town, shooting sporadically and killed one person while on Sunday about 20 persons were reportedly shot dead in Kono Bo-ue community’’.

“How can one explain the reason for the killing of about 20 innocent natives in a community that is not at war with her neighbours and does not have report of intra communal conflict at time of the incident?

“We use this opportunity to again appeal to the federal and Rivers State governments to carry out the fight against gang wars and criminality with demonstrable vigour and utmost priority and to decisively, with no exceptions, bring to book culprits to avert further incident.

While we call on the people of the area to remain law-abiding, we urge the community and traditional leaders to work with the security agencies to initiate actions that would expose those behind the insecurity situation and bring back lasting peace and normalcy to the various communities.

“On our part, we would continue our peace programme, in partnership with relevant authorities, particularly the churches, security experts and Paramount Rulers in the area, hoping for positive outcome in the coming days.

“MOSOP sympathizes with the people of Kono- Bo-ue community, particularly, families of the victims, and calls on the youths and community Leaders to cooperate with security agencies in their quest to restore peace in the community.”