Foreign, Local media criminalises Ijaw, N'Delta struggle, IPF declares

The National President of Ijaw Publishers Forum, Comrade Austin Ozobo today said both the foreign and local media over the years have criminalised the Ijaw Struggle as well as that of the Niger Delta. 

Comrade Ozobo made the assertion during his inaugural speech shortly after an eight(8) man National Executive was inaugurated for the IPF. 

He said, "Foreign media, without fear or favour branded our freedom fighters as militants, kidnappers, sea pirates, hostage takers and oil thieves. All these were to criminalise the struggle and weaken its prospects."

He noted that the Ijaw people are "agitators" contrary to the ugly names the foreign media had branded the Ijaw people.

According to Comrade Ozobo, "The criminalisation of our struggle by foreign media reduced support from the international community for our freedom. 

"These unethical and inimical colorations further created room for the genocidal attacks and massacre in Ijaw land".