Angry youths protesting police brutality in Bayelsa State on Sunday attacked the worldwide president of Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Peter Igbifa over alleged reluctance to call out Ijaw youths from the nine states of the region for the ongoing protest against police brutality in the country.
Igbifa, who was said to have gone to the Bayelsa State Government House to meet Governor Douye Diri, but met a crowd of protesters at the entrance who turned on him, chanting ‘thief! Thief! Coward!
The IYC President, who is from Rivers State was eventually guarded out of the rowdy situation by some bodyguards and few Ijaw youths as the protesters continue hauling obscene words.
Reacting to the development, the Spokesman of the Ijaw Youths Council, Ebilade Ekerefe, described the action of the angry protesters as a “sacrilege”, saying “IYC is a movement that is founded on principles with a clear mandate and therefore, cannot jump into the arena of sociopolitical struggles without studying the unfolding developments and the positive impact such struggles will bring to the table for our people.”
“It is against this background that we share in solidarity with the bravery and the undying spirits of the Nigerian youths whom have suffered directly in the hands of police brutality, oppression and intimidation. And as Council, we’ve always come to the rescue of innocent Ijaw youths whom have been severally detained unjustly by the police when called upon,” he said.
DAILY TRUST
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