Warri — LEADERS of the Ijaw in Warri called yesterday for an independent probe into the recent killing of 29 Ijaw youths suspected to be sea pirates by the Joint Security Task Force at Pere-Otugbene in Warri South -West Local Government Area of Delta State.

According to the leaders, though the massive security operations ordered by the state governor are commendable, the Task Force is being misled by some Ijaw in government to embark on genocide on Warri Ijaw communities.

In a statement issued in Warri yesterday and signed by Chairman of the Izon-Ibie Community, Chief Bare Etolor, the leaders said much as they condemn criminality in its strongest terms, "it must be said that we strongly suspect that the Brig. Gen Zamani-led forces was misled by his field officers to claim responsibility for the mass killing of 29 alleged Ijaw sea pirates in Pere-Otugbene.

"We call on top army chiefs and Brig.-Gen. Zamani to probe the killings to forestall aiding of criminality by his own men for the sake of the Joint Task Force's good image and the security of innocent people it seeks to protect.

"We the Ijaw know that killing and hiding under police protection such as the alleged killers are seen to be doing, may simply be postponing the evil day. A probe could serve as a deterrent to future recklessness and avert vendetta and intra-ethnic fighting which the elders are still battling to prevent. The outcome of the probe could also advise the JTF who could derail in its assignment by following irresponsible leads. Let Zamani establish who, where and with what weapons the killings were committed.