Tina Amanda
Youths in Choba Community, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State have said that the recent killing of the Chairman of the Community Development Committee and Chief Priest has led to mass arrest of youths in the community by security operatives.
Our correspondent who visited the community on Tuesday gathered from residents that some buildings belonging to the leadership of Choba Youth Council, including that of the Chairman, FRANCIS IHUNDA, were destroyed by some men in uniform who were allegedly led by some indigenes of the community.
Our correspondent, Tina Amanda reports that the Chairman of Choba Youth Council who was invited by the Anti-Cultism Unit of Rivers state Police Command has been in detention since Sunday while other members of the youth body have been on the run for fear of been arrested in the ongoing mass arrest.
The Spokesman of the Youth Council, CHIMENEM ODUNGWERU who spoke to our correspondent from his hideout denied any link between the leadership of the Choba youth and the killings in the community.
Odungweru, however, blamed the leadership style of the chiefs and elites whom he accused of chasing shadows rather than fight the growing insecurity in the community.
Odungweru while expressing worry that the traditional institution and community elites have failed in bringing peace and unity to the community, called on Governor NYESOM WIKE to help in restoring peace and security in the community.
Another youth leader, IYKE OGBONDA-WAHU after narrating how his younger brother was killed few weeks ago, also revealed that the youths kill themselves on a daily basis, adding that many of the deaths were not reported.
He blamed the community leaders for not intervening to end the crisis.
