By ENITAN ABEL JOHNGOLD ORHERUATA, mnipr

Comrade Marvin Mordi has denied allegations linking him to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), insisting that his intervention in the reported assault of an Ibusa youth by military personnel was driven solely by his commitment to justice, human rights and accountability.

Mordi, in a public statement titled “A Public Statement of Appreciation, Clarification and Reaffirmation of My Commitment to Justice,” categorically declared that he was neither a member of IPOB nor affiliated with the organisation in any capacity.

He described attempts to associate him with the group as misleading and an apparent effort to malign his character, damage his reputation and discourage him from speaking out over the alleged incident in Ibusa, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State.

The community advocate also commended the Commander of the 63 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Asaba, Brigadier General Ibe Buhari, for what he described as a swift and decisive intervention following the alleged assault on a young Ibusa indigene, which reportedly resulted in the loss of one of the victim’s fingers.

According to Mordi, the reported arrest and detention of the military personnel allegedly involved, their withdrawal from the community and the subsequent deployment of new personnel were encouraging steps towards restoring public confidence and strengthening relations between the military and the people of Ibusa.

He said the Brigade Commander’s response demonstrated a willingness to address the concerns of the community and promote accountability within the security system.

Mordi, however, called for sustained attention to the matter, insisting that the reported withdrawal and redeployment of personnel should not mark the end of the process.

He urged the relevant military authorities to ensure a transparent and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, while also calling for appropriate attention to the victim’s medical needs and welfare.

The community advocate further rejected suggestions that the incident occurred against the backdrop of a cult-related conflict in Ibusa.

He maintained that the community was peaceful at the time and that there was no cult war or cult-related crisis connected to the incident.

According to him, attempts to portray the development as a cult-related confrontation could create a misleading impression about the security situation in the community and divert attention from the central issue of the alleged assault.

Addressing the allegations of IPOB affiliation, Mordi stressed that demanding justice for an alleged victim of abuse should not be interpreted as support for any political or separatist organisation.

He argued that speaking against alleged human rights violations was a legitimate civic responsibility and should not attract intimidation, harassment or character assassination.

“My advocacy is rooted in the principles of justice, fairness, human dignity, accountability and the protection of fundamental human rights. These are universal values that transcend ethnic, religious, political and ideological affiliations,” he stated.

Mordi also called on security agencies and relevant authorities to take any threats against his person seriously, expressing concern over what he described as attempts to intimidate and discredit his advocacy.

He urged the appropriate authorities to investigate thoroughly should anything untoward happen to him in connection with his demand for justice.

Emphasising the importance of peaceful relations between security agencies and host communities, Mordi said military operations would be more effective when residents regarded security personnel as partners in protecting their lives and property.

He called for stronger communication, professionalism, respect for human rights and accessible complaint mechanisms to prevent a recurrence of incidents capable of undermining public confidence in security institutions.

Reaffirming his position, Mordi said he was not seeking confrontation but justice for the alleged victim, accountability where wrongdoing was established and lasting peace in Ibusa.

He also appealed to community leaders, youth organisations, security agencies and other stakeholders to work collectively towards protecting the rights and dignity of residents.

“Justice must not be criminalised. Advocacy must not be intimidated. And the rights of citizens must never be compromised,” he declared.

He concluded by reiterating his appreciation to the 63 Brigade Commander for his intervention, stressing that Ibusa deserved peace, its youths deserved justice and every citizen deserved protection.