Police tear-gas protesters in Akwa Ibom

Forum 8 months ago

Police tear-gas protesters in Akwa Ibom

Police on Tuesday opened canisters of teargas on protesting youths who stormed the Akwa Ibom State government House, Uyo, demanding their share of five per cent of the total 13 per cent oil derivation allocation to states in the region.

Our correspondent reports that the development resulted in a stampede as they ran to take cover for their dear lives.

The youths under the auspices of Ibom Youths Congress clad in white and black attires sang war songs and matched through major streets of the state metropolis.

They were, however, dispersed by the police while trying to enter the Government House to present their request to the governor, Pst Umo Eno.

Our correspondent reports that it took the intervention of the Joint Task Force to dislodge the group from the Wellington Bassey Way end of the Government to the Ibom Plaza roundabout, where they ventilated their grievances.

Speaking to journalists, one of the leaders, Victor James, Secretary of the Niger Delta Movement, said, “We have suffered a lot; our youths have not been empowered. That is why we’ve come en masse to make sure that the Governor looks into our matter.

“We are asking for five per cent out of the 13 per cent oil derivation. And they have said they would call us for dialogue. But failure to do that we will take another step,” he said.

The Police Public Relations Officer Mr. Odiko MacDon, explained that the teargas incident was borne out of the need to stop hoodlums trying to invade Government House from taking the laws into their own hands.

He said, “Well the truth of the matter is that they were addressed by the Commissioner of Police; the Commander 2 Brigade, and other sister agencies on the need to be peaceful.

“They were also addressed by the Commissioner for Internal Security, but they insisted that they have to access the Government House. That is why a commensurate force was used to disperse them. They have dispersed peacefully so there’s no need for anybody to worry.”