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Isoko Youths Protest ‘Illegal’ Detention Of Their Leader

  Advertisement Angry youths from Isoko barricaded the popular Ughelli-Asaba Highway on Friday with a call for the release of one Umuakpo Ovie. The protesters … Continue reading Isoko Youths Protest ‘Illegal’ Detention Of Their Leader


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Isoko Youths Protest Alleged Illegal Detention Of Leader

 

Angry youths from Isoko barricaded the popular Ughelli-Asaba Highway on Friday with a call for the release of one Umuakpo Ovie.

The protesters said Ovie – the President of the Isoko National Youth Association – was arrested by the police, an act they claimed was initiated by some people in government.

The aggrieved youths who came out in their hundreds blocked both sections of the road, carrying placards with various inscriptions in which they accused the state government of taking sides with a factional president parading himself as their leader.

However, not even the presence of security officials could deter the protesters from condemning what they called ‘an illegal arrest’.

In an interview with Channels Television, one of the protesters Amos Okpoko accused the government of being insensitive to the plights of the Isoko people.

Okpoko said: “We have always protested against the insensitivity of the state government towards the Isoko people, our road is in a very terrible state as we record series of accidents all the time.

“Our president has also been arrested illegally by some people in government. We hereby demand his release with immediate effect.”

The government, however, denied the allegations saying the said president had been released.

Mr Aniagwu, who spoke on its behalf, reiterate government’s commitment to infrastructural development in all parts of the state without preference to any ethnic nationality.

“It is not true that the state government is taking sides with anybody that is not legitimately the leader of the group; the governor (Ifeanyi Okowa) is very much interested in the peace of that area.

“There has been a lot of internal issues before now and, of course, you know that we have to listen to both sides. I can assure you that the young man in question has been released and the government will definitely resolve all issues,” he said.

On the condition of the road in the region, Aniagwu said, “That particular road was awarded when we came into office and it was divided into three different sections.

“When we came in, the country went into recession for more than 16 months but now that things have begun to pick up, we will try and effect some repairs on the road.”