…Chased away by real Niger Delta agitators
By Saidu Idris
365Daily – Some suspected hoodlums posing as Niger Delta Agitators were on Thursday arrested with a mock coffin, in Abuja at by security operatives attached to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Abuja.
It was learnt that the hoodlums were mobilized from Gwagalada by some faceless individuals to carry out a protest with the mock coffin, in front of the ministry over the non inauguration of the NDDC board.
But luck ran out of them when some Ijaw youths got winds of the development and proceeded to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, to confront them. On sighting them, some of the hoodlums took to their heels, but not before receiving some beating.
The unlucky ones among the hoodlums, it was gathered, were handed over to the Divisional Police Officer, Ministry of Niger Delta, Abdulahi Abubakar, who confirmed the development to reporters, saying, “Yes, some people came to the ministry of Niger Delta to protest. Some of them are here with me in the station and we are trying to sort things out.”
Speaking with reporters, Comrade Kiriye Sylva, warned non Niger Deltans to stop using their names and associations to perpetuate crisis aimed at extorting money from public officers-in-charge of the ministry, saying, “real Niger Deltans will not go about with mock coffins simply because they want their grievances to be addressed. ”
“Let me warn all those using our names to stage protests for monetary gains to desist from this act forthwith. We will deal decisively with anybody or group of individuals, who are out to tarnish the good image of Niger Deltans. ”
According to Sylva, “Information made available to us reveals that the hoodlums were mobilized from the outskirts of Abuja, given stipends to come down here to embarrass our leaders. We will not fold our arm and watch them use our names to commit havoc, all in the name of protests. These were not Niger Deltans at all and we know why they are doing all these,” he stated.