‘I hope we don’t have a replay of the Odimassacre in 1999’ – Bayelsa gov warns militants

Bayelsa state governor, Seriake Dickson, has expressed fears that a replay of the Odi massacre in the state in 1999 may happen if the militants in the state continue to kill soldiers. Just yesterday, three soldiers were killed by some militants in the state.
Over 100 people including women and children were killed after former President Obasanjo allegedly ordered the military to attack Odi people on November 20th 1999 following the killing of 12 soldiers by some militant in the state.
Seriake’s fears is expressed in a statement released today by his Chief Press secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson
“The Bayelsa State governor has condemned in very strong terms, the recent unprovoked attack and killing of four security personnel in Nembe Creek and three Naval personnel in Foropa community in Nembe and Southern Ijaw local government areas of the state and other parts of the Niger Delta region. According to him, such unwarranted attacks on the nation’s security personnel were putting the state and the region in bad light, and also putting the innocent ones in the state and the Niger Delta region in danger. While warning that the government of Bayelsa State does not want a replay of the Odi massacre in 1999, during the administration of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, where only the innocent people suffered the brunt of the military invasion, the governor called on community leaders and other stakeholders to check the activities of youths in their domains. As part of the steps to check the activities of the youths, the unwholesome trend and improve the security situation in the state, he said community leaders, elders and other stakeholders would be summoned to a meeting at a date to be announced later”the statement read