Operation ‘Crocodile Smile’: IYC Decries Military Intimidation of Innocent Civilians

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has urged the Federal Government to call the military officers carrying out the Operation ‘Crocodile Smile’ to stop harassing innocent citizens in the creeks.

This is contained in a statement signed by the IYC spokesman, Eric Omare, in Warri, Delta, on Tuesday.

Omare, in the statement issued to newsmen, alleged intimidation of villagers along the Warri and Forcados rivers in Delta.

He also alleged that for the past two days, villagers plying the rivers had been subjected to undue harassment and in some cases deprived access to their communities.

“From Monday till this morning, several people going to communities like Ogulagha, Odimodi, Ijaw Oborotu, Forcados and other surrounding communities are denied access to these communities.

‘This development has now resulted in cases of communities having shortage of food with possible humanitarian crisis.

This is condemnable and totally unacceptable, the military must have respect for human rights in their activities in the Niger Delta,” Omare said.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen.Turkur Buratai, on August 27, inaugurated the ‘Operation Crocodile Smile’ in Sapele, Delta.

Buratai said the operation was not meant to harm anyone but to further boost security in the volatile region.