₦airaland Forum

What I saw in Odi reminds me of a phrase in Latin: hori willet wizzle, meaning horrible sight, agonizing, embarrassing, shameful. This was what I saw. I saw a degradation of human habitation and sadness written on the faces of hapless and helpless women, faces that showed mourning." Even the Butcher of Abuja did not do this! I hope one day Obasanjo will be put on trial for this, the murder of Lady Kuti, and other heinous crimes that apparently doesn't bother the conscience of this 'born again christian'. How any human being can support this sort of thing, especially in a 'democracy' is way beyond my imagination" , Senator Durojaiye

1. On 19 November 1999 the Federal Government of Nigeria declared a full-scale war against the Ijaw ethnic tribe on the orders of General Olusegun Obasanjo. A combat battalion invaded Odi - a town that lies on the eastern verge of the upper part of the Nun River. The unprovoked attack was aimed at arresting Ijaw youths who demonstrated against the Yorubas who massacred Ijaws in Lagos.

STRENGTH

2. A full combat battalion was used to invade Odi in Bayelsa State. Details are as follows:
a) 22 five ton vehicles loaded with about 1,500 troops
b) 4 armored personnel carriers i.e. APCs mounted with machine guns
c) 3 eighty-one millimeter mortar guns have been used in bombing Odi from 2:00pm to 6:00pm Nov. 20 1999
d) 2 pieces of 105 mm Howitzer Artillery guns were also used on November 20, 1999 in bombing Odi.
e) 2 naval patrol sea crafts mounted with machine guns
f) Conventionally equipped machine guns of a combat battalion

DISPOSITION

3. The operational combat force of the Federal Government of Nigeria has been positioned as follows:

a) Blocking the only road leading to the Bayelsa State capital (Yenagoa) and terrorizing innocent civilians.
b) Heavily armed roadblocks have been mounted at Patani on the road linking Lagos, Warri and Port Harcourt with the Nigerian army terrorizing innocent travelers and civilians along the road.
c) The main fighting troops are concentrated at Kaiama and the Kaiama and Odi junction.
d) One naval patrol craft is positioned in Patani and another is positioned in Kaiama.
e) The APCs and the 81 mm mortar guns are positioned on Okoso Bridge in Sampou East - West Road.

INTENTION

4. The likely intention of the Federal Government of Obasanjo is to create a military build up in Bayelsa State and prepare invasion of Odi and other Communities for the following agenda amongst others:

a) To whip up sentiments in the International community and the national assembly and declare a state of emergency in Bayelsa State by all means.
b) Suspend the governor of Bayelsa State. To this end, the invading army has cordoned of the whole state.
c) To destroy the Niger Delta struggle using this invasion as a diversionary measure.
d) Obasanjo to continue the agenda of unprovoked aggression against the Ijaws as a Yoruba man who is the President with enormous powers.
e) It is likely that the Nigerian Navy is being used to block the Coastal waterways to silence the Niger Delta struggle.