IYC accuses Edo Police of parading innocent Ijaw

By Gabriel Enogholase
BENIN—VICE-CHAIRMAN of Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Mr. Andrew Igiri, has accused the Edo State Police Command of parading two innocent Ijaw youths as kidnappers, saying that the duo were among the six boys that were arrested at Evbotubu area of the state capital,  some weeks ago.

It will be recalled that on Wednesday, Edo State Police Commissioner, Mr. Kachi Udeoji announced the arrest of eight kidnappers,  who he said have been terrorizing the state since 2009.

Mr. Igiri, in his reaction to the parading of the youths  in an interview with Vanguard, gave the names of the two Ijaw youths paraded along with other kidnappers, as Olu Oyea and Destiny Adiomane aka Yellowman.

He called on the police to release the boys, claiming they are  not kidnappers. He also called on the police to charge them before a competent court for trial, if the allegations against them are true.

Efforts to reach the Command Police Public Relations Officers,  Mr.Peter Ogboi for his comment failed.

Meanwhile, a former militant, Mr. Ezekiel Akpasewei has called on the Binis in Ovia South_West Local Government Area of the state to allow the Ijaws in the area to either contest for the chairmanship of the council or the State House of Assembly seat in the interest of peace, justice, fairness and equity.

In a statement in Benin yesterday, Akpasewei said that for a long time, the Binis in the area had occupied all political offices, adding that this time around, they should allowed the Ijaws to occupy some of the political offices.

“We strongly demand for equal sharing of political offices because the Ijaws in Edo State should not only be remembered only when there is work to do but they should also be remembered at the time of harvest,”  he said.

He said that all Ijaws in Edo State,  including former militants were solidly behind the candidature of Mr. Andrew Igiri as the chairmanship aspirant for the council.