The Ijaw Publishers Forum, IPF, has slammed the Vanguard national daily for what it termed as “mischievous news”, a report from the media house that Ijaw irate youths attacked and killed military men in Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.

The Vanguard publication is coming on the heels of violent attacks on security officials who were on a rescue mission in Okuama community to free a kidnapped resident of Okoloba community in Bomadi LGA. Among the security officials killed in the fracas include a commanding officer, two majors, one captain, and 12 soldiers.

IPF, while responding to the "mischievous" Vanguard publication, called on the newspaper house to apologise to the Ijaw Nation for wrongful identity and retract the said publication that was authored by one Kingsley Omonobi and published online on Saturday, March 16.

The IPF statement, signed by its President Comr. Ozobo Austin and its Secretary, Comr. Magbei Tare, reads:

"The attention of the Ijaw Publishers Forum, IPF, has been drawn to a mischievous news making the round that it was Ijaw irate youth that attack and kill military men in Okuama community in Ughelli South local government area.

"Ordinarily, we shouldn't have responded but it has becomes necessary to refute it owing to the that fact the story is coming from the revered Vanguard Newspaper.

"We wish to state unequivocally that it was not Ijaw that attack the military men in Delta state, and the Okuama community where the incident took place is an Urhobo speaking community in Ughelli South local government and not an Ijaw community, not in Bomadi Local Government Area.

"This is a fact that the military on ground is aware off, but twisting facts by such respected paper is not only disappointing, but one could say Vanguard is conniving with certain characters to malign Ijaw nation.

"This misplacement of fact coming from a major main-stream newspaper is highly disturbing, and such could not give good image about the newspaper.

"The report which was authored by one Kingsley Omonobi in Vanguard Newspaper should be disregarded and ignored, it was a complete misplacement of fact and was intending to damage Ijaw hard earned reputation, and to make the military turn against Ijaw people for what they know nothing about.

"However, we wish to reiterate that Ijaw in Delta state and Nigeria do not have any fight with the Nigerian military and never any time resorted to killing of Nigerian military for doing their legitimate duty.

"On this note, I called on vanguard newspaper, to make retraction and apologise for the Ijaws in Delta state and Niger Nigeria at large within 24 hours for the damage the said report may have caused."

Meanwhile, the Chief of Defence Staff, General CG Musa, had ordered the immediate arrest and investigation of all those involved in the dastardly act.

#penglobalcommunity #IPF