Leaders of youth groups and other stakeholders in Bayelsa State have condemned the Wednesday attack on the home of the Amayanabo of Twon Brass Kingdom, King Alfred Diette-Spiff by youths protesting the alleged shooting in the leg of 24 years old by a military officer during a protest in the area.
It was gathered that the people of Twon Brass in Brass Local Government Area of the state protested against the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) over a prolonged power outage, refusal to pay indigenous contractors and non-compliance to its corporate social responsibility in its host Communities.
The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Brass Clan, the member representing Brass Constituency 1 at the State House of Assembly, Hon. Daniel Charles and the founder of a political group in Brass, Robert Desmond condemned the attack on the home of the traditional ruler.
While the Ijaw Youths Council, Brass Clan led by Chairman, Comrade Hello Richard and Clan Rep, Comr. Benjamin Tuaton described the attack on the royal palace as “condemnable, the duo of Hon. Daniel Charles and Robert Desmond in separate chats agreed that though the accidental shooting of the protesting youth by a soldier was not deliberate, “the youths should not have gone to the extent of vandalizing the home of our paramount ruler”.
The IYC, Brass Clan said, “From our findings, the shooting took place when some persons hijacked the protest and instigated the attack on the palace of the Amayanabo of Twon Brass, HRM. Alfred Diete-Spiff. As the apex body representing all Ijaw youths in the clan, we condemn in strong terms the brazen disrespect on the King of Twon Brass. We will not condone any attack on his person from anybody, be it an Ijaw person or foreigner”.
On his part, the founder of the New Face group, Desmond Robert, said though many of the protesters are complaining of leadership failure in Twon Brass, ”we condemn the attack on the palace of the King and if the people want to make their grievances known, it must be done in the right way. We should listen and ask questions if we are not satisfied. What we are calling for is a better Twon Brass with the right leadership.”
It would be recalled that the protest staged on Tuesday by the people of Twon Brass Kingdom against the Nigerian Agip Oil Company(NAOC) over the prolonged power outage and ill-treatment of community people in the employ of the oil company snow-balled into a major crackdown as soldiers were deployed to disperse the protesters.
It was gathered that tension heightened in the community at about noon over the shooting of one of the protesters and the injuring of many as they scampered for safety from the shooting soldiers.
Findings revealed that the protest which began on Friday continued on Monday and Tuesday after information filtered out that some influential traditional ruler in the community has been allegedly paid by the oil company to discourage the protest.
Sources in the community confirmed that the Amayanabo of Twon Brass, King Alfred Diete- Spiff who was not happy with the turn of events had gone to address the protesters to allow peace reign. The paramount ruler was attacked and his palace reportedly vandalized by the protesters.
