By FESTUS AHON
UGHELLI—THE people of Idheze community, Isoko North Local Government Area, Delta State, yesterday, raised alarm over the arrest and detention of their youths by men of Military Joint Task Force, JTF in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, on the alleged order of  Nigerian Agip Oil Company, NAOC.

The community had been at loggerheads with management of the company over non-employment of their indigenes in the company amongst other demands.

The community’s Secretary General, Mr. Felix Oboh, in a statement, said: “Despite huge contributions from Idheze oil wells to NAOC and the Federal Government, no single indigene is on the employment of NAOC as a direct or even contract staff. The community leadership over the years had series of meetings with NAOC on the need to recruit our indigenes without success. They had from time to time made unfulfilled promises on the issue of employment.

“This led to a meeting of May 22. On arrival at NAOC Port Harcourt Office, the meeting was shifted to May 23. The youth were then lodged by NAOC in Port Harcourt at a hotel so that the meeting would be held the next morning. But surprisingly, at about noon, the youth saw a brigade of soldiers, who took over the hotel. They were molested and beaten up in search of the youth leader, Mr Godspower Oregbor.

“However, he was arrested and taken to unknown destination. Idheze people both at home and in Diaspora condemn this arrest in Port Harcourt. Despite of these, we still believe in dialogue, we want the youth president to be released by NAOC on whose order soldiers made the arrest and come to a round table discussion on the employment issue rather than distracting us through arrest,” he added.