By Mark Lenu
The Ijaw Youth Council has expressed shock, following the sporadic shootings that rocked its Eastern Zone election in Port Harcourt at the weekend, which left some dead and others seriously injured.
Recall that some heavily armed cultists invaded the venue of the election and opened fire on the election participants in order to make the election unsuccessful.
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A report from the IYC situation room signed by four IYC leaders among whom were the National Legal Adviser, Tamunotonye David Altraide and the Secretary-General, Maobuye Nangi Obu upheld Prince Datolu Sukubo as the duly elected chairman of IYC Eastern Zone.
The report was read in part as saying that: “The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Eastern Zone election successfully held on 14th September 2024 in Abuloma, Port Harcourt with Comr. Prince Datolu Sukubo emerged as the chairman and has been sworn in to assume his duties, alongside his executive members immediately.
“However, despite the warnings of the President of Council, Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri at the IYC EASTERN ZONE Stakeholders meeting held at Aldgate Congress Hotel on Friday, 13th September 2024, we were shocked to see that the election was almost marred with the presence of some cult groups.
“Albeit, we want to use this medium to appreciate the timely intervention of the President of Council, Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri under whose request, the personnel of the Nigerian Army, the Police, Civil Defense, and other security outfits swung into action that gave a bit of respite to the violent situation at Abuloma town.
“At the time of making this report, information reaching us was that only members of the cult groups that first engaged the aforementioned security outfits in the shootout had casualties with some reportedly dead and some injured.
“In as much as we are yet to confirm the legitimacy of the reported situation, we are using this medium to call on all Ijaw youths in the Eastern Zone to remain calm, law-abiding, and be careful as we work hand-in-hand with the relevant security agencies to investigate properly and restore peace and tranquility in the zone.”
