Oodua group warns of possible war
By Agency reporter
Published: Friday, 22 May 2009
The Coalition of the Oodua Self- Determination Groups has condemned the reprisal attacks on youths in the Niger Delta saying it smacks of genocide.

It also called on the Federal Government to call the Joint Task Force to order and warned that if stringent steps were not taken to curtail the excesses of JTF, the attacks could lead to war.

The position of the group was contained in a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Mr. Gbenga Soloki, and made available to our correspondent in Lagos on Thursday.

It flayed ‘‘the genocide in the Niger-Delta region,‘‘ in particular, the killing of innocent people it described as the nation‘s future leaders.

According to COSEG, “We strongly condemn the action of JTF; the way the President is handling the matter in the region is uncalled for because declaring war on the region by the Federal Government is not the best.

“Look at the way the armed forces are killing the innocent and future leaders of this great country, burning of traditional palaces, shrine and populace just because the youth of the region are trying to extract good governance from the government.”

The government, it added, has failed at first instance to live up to its responsibilities to the people of the region and Nigeria as a whole.