Ijaw Youth Council Condemns Killing Of British-aid Worker In Niger Delta, Vows To Fish Out Killers

The Ijaw Youth Council (Worldwide) on Tuesday condemned the kidnapping and consequent killing of a 57-year old British aid worker in the Niger Delta, Ian Squire, with a promise to collaborate with security agencies to get the perpetrators.

The Secretary-General of IYC, Alfred Kemepado, stated this during a condolence visit to the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright in Abuja.

Squire, an optician, was involved in charity work in the Niger Delta when he was kidnapped alongside three others on October 13, 2017 and later died.

Kemepado told the Envoy that those behind the crime are enemies of the development of the Niger Delta and should be fished out to face the justice.

According to him, the people of the Niger Delta have been a peace loving people who would not condone such heinous acts against innocent people.

He said that the IYC would carry out a campaign in Ijaw communities as part of the efforts to ensure that such crimes are not repeated in the area.

Kemepado said, “We are set for a campaign in our communities to ensure this doesn’t repeat itself, not to a British or any other nationality. The Ijaw people don’t condone crime; we are a good and hospitable people and always ready to host developmental partners and their interests. We are set for a campaign in our communities to ensure this doesn’t repeat itself, not to a British or any other nationality.”

The IYC scribe who appealed to the British Government not to use the isolated incident to judge the Ijaw people also urged communities’ leaders in the area to ensure that their communities are not used to perpetrate crime.