FOR as it was, Umaru Yar’Adua de-cided to go military like his mentor, Obasanjo. And so we didn’t only desire others to pray for us (ora pro nobis), we also wrote that people miss not the obvious: The wealth or monies of the region are in millions of private bank accounts with each running into millions of US dollars, all scattered throughout the whole world.

And Yar’Adua listened somewhat. He granted amnesty to the boys, and then rolled out some form of plan to integrate them to society. We applauded him though we all agreed that was only a drop into an ocean of needs by Niger Deltans.

He didn’t come so enthralling in tackling the issues that brought about militancy in the first place.

But Yar’Adua soon passed on and Jonathan Goodluck took over the reins of power. Because the issues that brought about militancy are still there and overwhelmingly so militancy reared its head once more. Rather than address key issues, the military have since started shelling the creeks. Ayakoromor has been invaded.

The toll is huge. Fire has engulfed the whole place; and debates over who caused the fire are on, just as there is disagreement over the number of houses destroyed. Meanwhile, internally displaced persons have taken refuge in Warri and other places.

The number is understandably staggering. Worst of it: The total number of deaths caused by this invasion is something else and the military is all out playing down on the number and disputing figures everyone else puts forward. Whatever is the case: John Togo, the man the military say it is after is still alive. Yet, General Charles Omoregie, leader of the Joint Task Force (JTF), said they tried to avoid colossal damage during their operations in the region.

Yet, he says Ayakoromor is a friendly community. Today, Omoregie is battling to deny what some have called genocide. He is the only one qualified now to define what is or what is not ‘colossal’ having trained to avoid colossal damage.

His narration on how the militants overtook (messed up) his military strategy and encircled his army and hence had no alternative but to open fire makes some of us so ashamed and sick. It is irritatingly silly. Is our military so lacking in military intelligence and so weak that it cannot get to its target?

Like with Gbaramatu we shall continue to ask that ‘if the military must go for some criminals, are the years of training that have so gutted our treasuries not enough to reach some hungry criminals without letting a pint of blood; even the blood of such criminals?’ Or, is this skewed argument about terrain difficulty their ‘strategic argument’ to continue to permit the killing of Niger Deltans, and of which Jonathan may not be aware of!

To kill Niger Delta people ad arbitrium because of their oil is barbaric and conscienceless. Rather than deceive ourselves; rather than think military option would do, let us remove the conditions that bred the crises in the region.

Let us listen to Willink Commission; let us listen to Ken Saro-Wiwa. Not to be allowed voice in extremis; not to be entitled to your due because all national documents are drafted and enacted by majority might, is simply ominous. To treat the Niger Delta people as superfluous while their God-given oil is a must grab is a superannuated mindset, a mindset that flourished in some long ages past. Not now.

The people have not asked for reparations yet. And they are damned right if they do. So, END THE STRING OF DEATHS IN NIGER DELTA TODAY.

Mr. EFEROVO IGHO, a public affairs analyst, writes  fromWarri, Delta State.