By Samuel Oyadongha

Yenagoa—Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, worldwide, has condemned Tuesday’s attack on Ann-Kio Briggs and other Niger Delta activists by suspected hired thugs at Tombia Junction, Bayelsa State, while they were protesting the allocation of land by the state government to Fulani herdsmen.

Spokesman of IYC, Mr Eric Omare, in a statement in Yenagoa, yesterday, called on security agencies to investigate those behind the attack and bring them to justice.

The Ijaw youth body called for the probe of the role played by security agents who were at the scene of the attack.

According to the statement, “It is totally unacceptable and undemocratic for Ann-Kio Briggs and other Ijaw activists to be attacked on Ijawland for expressing dissent over a government policy.

“This action does not reflect the collective position of the Ijaw nation. We feel strongly that the protest led by Ann-Kio Briggs and other Ijaw activists should be an opportunity to open a debate on the best approach to the management of Fulani herdsmen on Ijaw land and the Niger Delta region instead of attacking them.

“The right to assemble and peacefully demonstrate to express contrary views to government policy is an integral part of democratic governance as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Bayelsa State should not be an exception.

“It is even more regrettable that the display of thuggery was done in the presence of security agents who ought to protect citizens’ right to assemble.”