By Innocent Anaba
Niger Delta Civil Society Organisations,TUesday, condemned the actions of the Joint Task Force in Ayakoromor, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, which resulted in the death of  nine civilians and the burning of over 150 buildings in the community.

The groups, 14 in number, in a statement, said, “the disproportionate use of force in a highly populated civilian environment is unacceptable.

“We call upon the Nigerian government, Delta State government and the International Community to provide immediate humanitarian assistance. The JTF must allow humanitarian and human rights organisations to have ongoing access to Ayakoromor in order to provide urgent and much needed humanitarian assistance to the traumatised community.  It is also critical to provide immediate relief for those who have been internally displaced in the region.

“In the ongoing operations to arrest John Togo, we call for JTF restraint and urge the Nigerian government and all military forces to respect international protocols,  rules and norms in their engagement with militants or criminals in the Niger Delta region” the groups added.

“We call upon the international community to hold the JTF to these rules of engagement and ensure that the JTF do not carry out reprisal and retaliatory attacks against communities and also  condemn the return to violence by John Togo and urge all those who have accepted the presidential amnesty to continue to show restraint,” they added.