The Ijaw People Development Initiative (IPDI) has lauded Acting President Yemi Osinbajo for the eventual release of youths who were arrested and detained in various detention centres across the country.
National president of IPDI, Comrade Austin Ozobo, who praised Osinbajo for walking the talk, however, appealed for the release of one Daniel Ezekiel who’s still languishing in military detention over alleged trumped up charges.
The appeal was made in a statement signed by Ozobo and made available to GbaramatuVoice on Sunday in Warri, Delta State.
“We appreciate the acting president, Yemi Osinbajo for his timely confidence building visit to Niger Delta region and again ordering the release of Niger Delta youths who had been arrested and detained in various military and DSS detention centres all over the country.
“We are happy that some of the youths had been released to reunite with their families in fulfillment of part of the conditions for peace in Niger Delta region.
‘But to our greatest surprise, some of such youths such as Daniel Ezekiel is still being withheld in such detention centres despite the acting president’s order to release all Niger youths arrested and detained to pave way for lasting peace.
“It is pertinent to note that it serves no interest of justice for the continued detention of Ezekiel, which is not in tandem with the acting president’s efforts to restore peace in the Niger Delta region,” Comrade Ozobo asserted.
He likened Ezekiel’s manner of arrest on August 2, 2016 as an abduction by the Department of State Security (DSS) he received a threat from an Ijaw leader on July 20, 2016 that he would be dealt with on false charges.
Ozobo therefore appealed to Osinbajo to effect the immediate release of Ezekiel in the spirit of the ongoing confidence-building between the Federal Government and the Niger Delta region.
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