Ijaw Youth Congress, on Thursday, described the invasion of the Okochiri palace of Ateke Tom by soldiers as barbaric.
One person was reportedly killed during the invasion.
IYC in a statement signed by its president, Pereotubo Oweilaemi and made available to theportcitynews said Ijaw people have been made scapegoats of Federal Government’s desperation.
According to the statement: “The unprovoked invasion of the Palace of our revered King, His Royal Majesty, King Ateke Tom at Okochiri town in Rivers State by soldiers deployed on election duty which is an act of aggression is not only barbaric, it is sacrilege that should be condemned by every well-meaning Nigerians.
“IYC cannot comprehend why the Ijaw people are made the scapegoat of the FG Government’s desperation in deploying the military to rig the elections? Only recently on 23rd f February 2019, the Ijaw nation lost many of her promising youths to soldiers invasions in Rivers and Bayelsa states.
“The invasions and ransacking of the house of the King is the worst form of atrocity committed against tradition our rich transition. The Ijaw nation views the action of the marauding soldiers as a declaration of war against us”
