National Youth Council of Nigeria has called on warring cult groups in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State to desist from further escalation of tension and violence in the area.
Chairman National Youth Council of Nigeria, Andoni chapter, Sampson Akpo who made the appeal while reacting to the recent cult clashes in the area also called on the cult groups to embrace peace for the development of Andoni.
He described as pathetic, the displacement of residents of several communities in Andoni as well as the inability of school children to take the ongoing junior certificate examination as a result of the crisis.
“It is so very sad! This is not our tradition, we used to know all daughters and sons of Andoni to be very loving and caring to each other and not killing each other”
“Everybody wants to develop his or her own community and not to destroy their communities. We are very willing to develop our community and our LGA. Fighting and killing ourselves will not help us, so please our brothers that are grieved or the ones that are very angry, we are appealing to you guys to please be calm and cease fire, as the traditional rulers, chiefs, youths of Andoni are determine to bring peace”
Sampson Akpọ, however, assured the displaced residents that peace will soon be restored to the troubled communities as Andoni people are working round the clock to ensure lasting peace.
“We appeal to them to be calm and we are also telling them with all full assurance that the traditional rulers, chiefs, the youths and the political class are on top of this matter.
“Right now, what we need is peace in Andoni. So we are very sorry for the displaced ones and we appeal to them to be calm. In a very short time, all these issues will be in the past, we can not do it alone so we are appealing to the governor of Rivers State to please come to out aid because we have been crying about it. The issue is known to the governor, so please our governor come to our aid we are dying”
