Gladys Nweke
Ekpeye people have condemned soldiers’ brutality on protesting Ekpeye youths who protested at Niger Delta Petroleum Resources gate in Opele, Ahoada-East Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The youths had protested at the facility demanding for employment among other things and have issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the company to do the needful or face severe consequences.
The President of the youth body, Comrade Ogboka Omeda, who condemned the action of the soldiers, said that the company must apologise to the entire Ekpeye people.
Consequently, Omeda has given the management of Niger Delta Petroleum Resources and its subsidiaries, 48-hour ultimatum to employ host community youths as welders and fitters as well as pay for hospital bills of the victims and repair damaged vehicles.
The Theportcitynews.com learnt that members of Ekpeye iron and steel workers, were brutalised by men of the Nigerian Army from Elele Barracks when they protested over non-employment.
The Ekpeye iron and steel members, who are also welders and fitters, had gone to Opele operational base of NDPR in Ahoada-East, to demand for full implementation of the local content law so that qualified indigenes of the community can explore their full potentials and benefit from the fruit of their labour.
They, however, met a brick wall as the company mobilised soldiers from Elele Barracks, who beat up the unarmed Ekpeye youths for making the demands.
The EYC president petitioned the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai, and the General Officer Commanding, 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, over the action of the soldiers.
He wondered why such barbaric act could take place in a democratic setting such as ours, as he said the unions have the right to peaceful protest.
Umeda warned the management of NDPR and its subsidiaries to, as a matter of urgency, attend to all pending employment issues for the host communities or face the wrath of the entire Ekpeye youth.
The president commended the efforts of Eze Ekpeye Logbo-in-Council led by Eze Robinson O. Robinson, who cut short his trip to Ubeta for the coronation of Eze Igbu Ubie 1V just to attend to the wounded Ekpeye welders and fitters.
He enjoined the youth to be peaceful even in the face of the brazen abuse of their rights, and cautioned the NDPR to address the complaints of the people
