News

IYC President Talks Tough, Warns Edo Ijaw Marginalisation Will No Longer Be Tolerated

Published

5 years ago

July 30, 2020

The newly elected President of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Worldwide, Comrade
Timothy Peter Igbifa says the long marginalisation of Ijaw people in Edo State will no longer be tolerated.

The President who was in a thank you tour to the Ijaws in the state after his election, expressed anger that inspite the population and being oil producing areas, the Ijaws are yet being marginalised and treated as strangers in the state they co-owned.

He noted that even before his election, what he told everyone during his electioneering was that his major cause will be the liberation of the Ijaws in Edo and Ondo states.

IYC leaders seated with the 8th President (4th left) at the thank-you meeting.

Stating that the Ijaw people are one worldwide, the 8th IYC President noted that ill-treatment to one Ijaw man is an ill-treatment to all, and will be fought by all Ijaws worldwide.

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He said, ” I am particularly passionate about the Ijaws in Edo and Ondo states axis particularly the Edo Ijaws and how they are being marginalised and ill-treated. Marginalisation of the Ijaws in Edo State will soon come to an end. We cannot be producing the crude oil and still be backward.

” The Council will stand by Ijaws ìn Edo State, and every form of oppression would not be tolerated. The battle for your liberation will not be exchanged for any coin. The attitude of Edo State Government towards Ijaws in the state has to change. In hunger, in plenty, we will not be moved until will make change.

“We will walk with Edo State Ijaw that never will marginalisation be allowed. An ill-treatment to one Ijaw man in anywhere is an ill-treatment to the entire Ijaw nation, we will not tolerate that.”

Speaking on the abandoned East-West road which has become dead trap to commuters, the 8th IYC President said the Council will soon issue a statement with ultimatum to rehabilitate the road, adding that failure to meet the ultimatum will lead to shut down.

While noting that Niger Delta resources are used in constructing flyover bridges and other good roads in Abuja and other states outside the region, the number one Ijaw youth noted that the entire Niger Delta can no afford to be having enough at disposal yet live in scarcity.

” The first thing I said when I emerged winner at the election was that the deplorable condition of the East-West road would be addressed. You cannot be taking much from us and leave us in hunger and scarcity, that will not be allowed! We are going to make sure East-West road is rehabilitated.

” If you have lost trust in the Council, please this is the time to regain trust in the Council. It is no longer business as usual.
I want to assure you that the Council is back at its feet! On Kiama declaration I stand.

Members from the 5 clans in Edo State seated at the meeting

“I will very soon issue a statement with ultimatum for the rehabilitation of the East-West road, and it shall be followed up. And after the ultimatum and nothing is done, the authorities will see the other side of us,” he said.

Earlier, welcoming the 8th IYC President to Edo State, Chief Don Ben, an IYC leader expressed confidence in the President, just he said the number one youth will fight the cause of the Ijaws in Edo State and take them to their promise land.

Describing Igbifa as a dogged, resilience and bold fighter, Ben said electing Igbifa to lead the entire Ijaw youths was never a mistake, adding that result will soon be seen by all.

News

BREAKING: ‎Court Sentences Nnamdi Kanu To Life Imprisonment For Terrorism

Published

5 hours ago

November 20, 2025

Editor

Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a Federal High Court in Abuja after being convicted on all seven counts of terrorism filed against him.

Justice James Omotosho, delivering judgment in Kanu’s trial, described him as a terrorist whose actions have led to bloodshed and destabilization in the South-East.

He said Kanu, who portrayed himself as a defender of his people, has instead endangered lives and national security.

“The court finds that the defendant, Nnamdi Kanu, is an international terrorist and must be treated accordingly,” Justice Omotosho declared.

The judge emphasized that the prosecution presented credible and sufficient evidence to prove the case against Kanu. He also noted that Kanu failed to enter a defense, choosing instead to rest his case on the prosecution’s evidence.

Justice Omotosho is still delivering the remaining part of the judgment.

News

JUST IN: Nigerian Govt Demands Death Sentence On Nnamdi Kanu

Published

5 hours ago

November 20, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian government has demanded the imposition of death sentence on Nnamdi Kanu following his conviction on terrorism charges.

Counsel to the Federal Government, Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, informed the court that the sections of the law under which Kanu was charged and convicted carried death sentence without any option.

Addressing the court after the pronouncement, the senior lawyer said the court has no discretion to exercise than to impose maximum punishment on him in line with the dictates of the law.

Awomolo held that Kanu throughout the trial did not show remorse for the offences he committed against the Federal Republic of Nigeria but chose to be militant, arrogant and unruly in his attitude.

He also demanded that all properties seized from Kanu be forfeited to the Federal Government.

The prosecution counsel equally demanded that Kanu be taken to prison where his security will be guaranteed till when the judgment against him would be executed.

News

JUST IN: Nigerian Separatist Leader Convicted On Terrorism Charges

Published

7 hours ago

November 20, 2025

Editor

A court in Nigeria has found separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu guilty of terrorism 10 years after he was first arrested.

The court said it was satisfied that Kanu had made a series of broadcasts to incite violence and killings, as part of his campaign for a separate state in south-east Nigeria, known as Biafra.

Kanu has so far been convicted on six of the seven charges he faced, with the judge continuing to deliver his ruling.

A relatively obscure figure, Kanu’s popularity surged in 2009 when he started Radio Biafra, a station that called for an independent state for the Igbo people broadcast to Nigeria from London.

Though he grew up in south-eastern Nigeria, where he attended the University of Nsukka, Kanu moved to the UK before graduating and acquired British nationality.

In 2014, he set up the Indigenous People Of Biafra (Ipob), a movement demanding independence.

Ipob was banned as a terrorist organisation in 2017. Its armed wing – the Eastern Security Network – has been accused of killings and other acts of violence in recent years.

Delivering his judgement, Judge James Omotosho said: “Mr Kanu knew what he was doing, he was bent on carrying out these threats without consideration to his own people.

“From the incontroverted evidence, it is clear that the defendant carried out preparatory act of terrorism.

“He had the duty to explain himself but failed to do so.”

Ahead of the verdict, Kanu insisted that proceedings could not continue because he had not yet filed his final written address, accusing the judge of bias and not understanding the law.

The verdict was delivered after Kanu had been forcibly removed from the courtroom for unruly behaviour.

He was first arrested in October 2015 but he jumped bail in 2017 and left the country after a military raid on his home. The court later revoked his bail in March 2019 and he was re-arrested in 2021 in Kenya.

The calls for Biafran independence date back many years.

In 1967 Igbo leaders declared a Biafran state, but after a brutal civil war, which led to the deaths of up to a million people, the secessionist rebellion was defeated.