The leadership of the umbrella body of Ijaw Youths in the Niger Delta region, Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC) Worldwide, has condemned the Nigerian military's invasion and alleged genocide against Ijaw communities under the guise of hunting for oil thieves in the region. The group accused the military of killing and maiming innocent and harmless children, men and women, as well as the elderly, under the pretence of going after unrepentant militants and oil thieves.