The Security Of Indigenous People In An Insecure Nigeria —Niger Delta Mov’t

PRESS RELEASE

The Niger Delta Self Determination Movement (NDSDM) rose from an emergency meeting on the 9th of February 2020 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The NDSDM discussed the very insecure state of the Nation Nigeria and the blatant disregard of the Federal Government of Nigeria to the murders and beheadings of Christians across Nigeria.

After exhaustive discussions the NDSDM resolved and hereby states as follows:

1. That we support the Amotekun Security Initiative of the South West Governments on behalf of their people and zone.

2. That we admire and commend the unity of purpose of the South Western States irrespective of partisan affiliations as the Governors promote the rights, safety and survival of their people over and above party politics and for this we commend them for being responsive to the plight of their people.

3. The first and crucial duty of any government is to secure the lives, rights and properties of the people who voted for them and who they govern.

The increasing and continuous violent attacks, kidnappings, beheadings, terrorism on Christians and indigenous peoples of Nigeria by Boko Haram, Fulani herdsmen and the seemingly nonchalant attitude of the established security agencies to bring an end to these violent crimes and genocide informed the choice of the South West people and governments to exercise their basic and fundamental rights to protect themselves.

4. We support and stand in solidarity with the South West for taking this bold and courageous step to protect their rights to life, their land, future and their survival as Indigenous people. Furthermore, we condemn the threats against the South West for taking this necessary, bold and unprecedented initiative to do what no one else will do for them.

5. If Hisbah and numerous other security bodies set up to enforce the beliefs and customs of the Muslims in Northern Nigeria did not break up Nigeria we see no reason why Amotekun of South West is expected to break up Nigeria. And as far as we are concerned, there is nothing illegal about the Amotekun Security Initiative, rather it should be applauded by all Nigerians.

6. Consequent upon the above, the NDSDM call on the Governors of the South-South to without further delays or further considerations get themselves together and agree within the next seven days, to establish with the peoples input, a homogenous security outfits in the South-South states under one name.

Furthermore, we call on all the State Assembly Members of each of the South-South states to quickly pass bills that will legalize this proposed security outfits of the South-South political zone before they become victims of the insecurity ravaging Nigeria.

7. The lives, properties, resources, future, and survival of our Ethnic Nationalities in the South-South should not be based on political parties sentiments rather it must be based on the fundamental rights and principles of our people and region as our self preservation in nonnegotiable.

8. That the vulnerability of the People of South-South region of Nigeria extends to the River Banks, Creeks, Mangroves, Swamps, Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Guinea, hence immediate action must be taken, as threats posed by the porous and open borders of Northern Nigeria and the No Visa/Free entry into Nigeria by all Africans and all Fulanis across Africa can no longer be acceptable.

9. Strangers, foreigners, terrorists and land grabbers of Nigeria and external interests of conquer, occupy and control are encouraged to come and take over our lands, forests, swamps, mangroves, creeks, and resources, we must say a loud and resounding NO to this strategy.

The end result of this strategy in our opinion, is to finalize the plans to enslave the rightful and indigenous owners of the South South and impose strange culture and religion on the South-South peoples of Nigeria.

10. That the Niger Delta Self Determination Movement call on all other groups of the South-South to act quickly and make the same calls we are making. It is important to note that for 5years the Federal Government have failed to get rid of Boko Haram and stop the genocide against christians in Nigeria by those they refer to as strangers and outsiders from neighboring countries.

11. To the Governors of the South-South the NDSDM says the security and the rights of our people to retain the ownership of our God-given lands and resources cannot and must not be compromised on the table of keeping Nigeria One.

If the Governors fail to act, the people of the South-South will be forced to borrow a leaf from the South-West and or the South East and Middle Belt governments and peoples initiatives.

The identities of the Niger Delta people must come first.

God bless the people and governments of the South-South States (Niger Delta).

SIGNED:

On behalf of and for the NDSDM,
The Convener