The Rivers State Police Command has arrested members of the Niger Delta People’s Salvation Front (NDPSF) providing security at the Emohua-Kalabari road.
Comrade Seleipiri Dokubo, Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Kalabari Se-ikpangi in a statement condemned the arrest of volunteers of NDPSF.
Dokubo said that police ought to commend the group for securing the road instead of arresting its members.
He said: “It is pertinent to inform the general public that for the past thirteen days, members of this organisation in a citizen self-help initiative have voluntarily mounted security patrol along the Emohua-Kalabari Road which has curbed the incessant kidnapping of commuters along the road which ordinarily is the duty of government and the security agencies.
“You will recall that on several occasions, commuters have been kidnapped, molested and killed along the dreaded Emohua-Kalabari road. The IYC Kalabari Se-ikpangi had seriously frowned over this ugly incidents and further had meetings with the 103 Nigerian Army Commanding officer wherein protest letters were submitted to the four LGA Chairmen for immediate steps to be taken which has now given rise to the clearing of the road and road inspection by the Rivers State Deputy commissioner of police.
“Rather than commending the efforts of these volunteers in restoring hope to the people by protecting lives and properties along the Emohua-Kalabari Road, they are rewarded by an arrest by the Rivers State Police Command.
“The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Kalabari Se-Ikpangi is calling on the Rivers State Police Command to unconditionally release members of the Niger Delta People’s Salvation Front (NDPSF) whose crime is mounting of a security patrol in a citizen self-help initiative at the Emohua-Kalabari Road. This is the same citizen self-help initiative that brought about the formation of OSPAC and others and they are freely operating without any impediment.
“We condemn those who are trying to infuse fear to commuters who are mostly Kalabari people along that road to short-change their economic life and also prevent them from carrying out their civic duties as a people”.
