Vanguard
WARRI—The Ijaw Christian Youths Forum (ICYF) in Delta State yesterday appealed to President Umaru Yar’Adua to withdraw troops of the military Joint Task Force (JTF) from troubled Ijaw Gbaramatu Kingdom , and adopt dialogue towards restoration of peace in Delta State.
The statement endorsed by Evang. Ebi Ubebe and Ambassador J. B. Abai, President and Secretary respectively, the ICYF spoke against the backdrop of planned reinforcement of troops in Gbaramatu where it said military campaign against alleged militants has “resulted in loss of innocent lives, property and destruction of entire Ijaw communities with a huge humanitarian crisis”.

The Ijaw Christian group said apart from inflicting untold hardship on market women, with accompanying starvation, its members also suffered displacement in the crisis between the JTF and militants.

“We urge all Ijaw Christians  to remain consistent in their prayers for peace and security not just in Gbaramatu Kingdom, but also in the entire Niger Delta. We accordingly call on all to embark on a one day fasting and special prayers on Saturday, June 13, 2009”.