Ijaw women under the aegis of Ijaw Women Liberation Movement, have dragged perpetrators of violence during the inconclusive Bayelsa governorship election that led to the death of some persons and molestation of Bayelsa citizens mostly women, to the National Human Right Commission (NHRC).
The group, in a statement signed by Chief (Mrs) Ebebi Agnes, said: “We wish to state emphatically that the conduct of the military during the unconcluded elections, which saw such a respected institution colluding with known common criminals in the creeks to manipulate the electoral process, is sad and sends a very dangerous signal to the advancement of our democracy.
"We have also resolved not to allow the killing and harassment of the people of Bayelsa state as a result of the election wherein the law enforcement agents were watching, to go unaddressed, by the Human Right Commission, with a view of seeking justice for the dead and protecting the living who are still vulnerable to such barbaric conduct in future elections in Bayelsa or elsewhere in the country."
The group stated it was sad to witness in broad day light, how security operatives failed to protect the people, particularly the women from attacks by political thugs and criminals, who were rather shielded by the military during the election.
It lashed out at the military, saying they have proved to be incompetent and unprofessional to get involved in the electoral process, adding that they watched with indifference while political thugs killed law-abiding citizens who were out to exercise their franchise.
The Ijaw women also reminded President Muhammadu Buhari that it is the responsibility of the government to protect the citizens as guaranteed by the Constitution and any attempt by the agencies saddled with the responsibilities of ensuring the protection of such rights, to violate it, is tantamount to a breach of the Constitution.
“We are hereby calling on all the people of Bayelsa, particularly the women, to arise and resist the tyranny that the Military occupation of our land during the election brought and be prepared until the conclusion of the process on a date, to be set by INEC for elections to hold in Southern Ijaw Local government.
“We are determined to pursue this to a logical conclusion and will not hesitate to nakedly protest any further attempt to militarise, what ordinarily should be a civil process in our state.
“We are peaceloving in Bayelsa and will not allow the desperation to hijack power by some greedy individuals, truncate the peace that has been enjoyed in our state over the years,” the group added.