An alleged violent altercation between security personnel and Ijaw teenagers who were purportedly backing Governor Siminalayi Fubara on Saturday caused tension to rise in Rivers State.
SaharaReporters claims that security guards shot and used tear gas on members of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), purportedly on the orders of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, injuring at least three individuals.
A disagreement over the use of a site for an IYC-organized event was the cause of the disturbance; according to accounts, IYC members were refused entry to their assigned location, while Wike’s supporters were allowed to continue with their meeting.
The IYC Secretary General voiced his concern over the perceived targeted intimidation and the strong military presence in a widely shared video from the scene.
They have resumed their tear gassing of us. According to SaharaReporters, Wike bemoaned, “We were killed in our own country by the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Police.”
In addition to preventing the Ijaw teenagers from staging their event, he said that security personnel permitted the installation of banners and signposts featuring Wike’s picture while removing those endorsing Governor Fubara.
“The soldiers turned us away when we came to put up the governor’s signposts,” he said. They replaced it with Wike’s. For what reason? We will also not agree if they do not.
He also charged Wike’s supporters with disobeying the King of Abalama Community’s order, which forbade all sides from holding gatherings that would inflame tensions.
According to the IYC representative, “We have nothing against them.” We have two locations. Despite the advice of the King of the Abalama Community to keep everyone away, George Kelly and his team continued with their work. We have been the target of their fire. I have been hurt. There have been three injuries to our people. Nyesom Wike is the sole reason those women are nearly dead.
Asking why his people were being oppressed by security forces, he also made an appeal to President Bola Tinubu.
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“This land is mine,” he continued. I am a man of Kalabari descent. We can’t give our lives for you. What is going on? Everybody here is Kalabari. We’re Ijaw. Because of Wike, I am unable to have my program in my neighborhood. “Why, Tinubu?”
Asari Dokubo denounces Wike and refers to him as a “drunken fool.”
In a video response to the clashes, Asari Dokubo, a former insurgent leader from the Niger Delta, criticized Wike and charged that he was employing security troops to frighten defenseless villagers.
Even Wike, who is intoxicated, is aware. You’re speaking incoherently. Tear gas is being fired at ladies who are not armed. You’re shooting unarmed ladies with your firearms. Dokubo remarked, “Just because you wanted to entice me.”
He referred to it as an unparalleled act of repression and questioned the legitimacy of using the military and police against people.
Was it the police’s responsibility to shoot unarmed women? Dokubo asked. Where is that practiced in any civilized country on earth? You are a dare to the Ijaw people.
Wike’s political legitimacy was further criticized by Dokubo, who claimed that the former governor had no actual background or history other than “stealing government money.”
“Who is Nyesom Wike?” he called out. What else has he done besides embezzle government funds? He has worked where? What lineage does he have?
According to him, “They know if we come, they will die and none of us will be scratched and we will walk away,” indicating that there might be dire repercussions if tensions continued to rise.
