Youths Protest Against Attacks On Oil Facilities In Niger Delta

Hundreds of youths in Rivers State on Tuesday took to the streets of Port Harcourt in protest against the incessant attacks on oil facilities in the Niger Delta.

The youths who came together on the aegis of National Youth Council of Nigeria, Rivers State branch, also protested against cultism and other social vices in the state.

The protest followed the increase in attacks on oil facilities, oil theft and cult-related activities in the region.

The youths marched from First Artillery to Azikiwe road in Port Harcourt with placards bearing several inscriptions such as ‘We need peace in the Niger Delta’, ‘Attacks on oil facilities must stop’, ‘Support Belemaoil to restore peace in the region, and ‘We don’t need cultism’.

The President of NYCN in Rivers State, Mr. Sukubo Sara-Igbe, said the protest became necessary because of the rise in the cases of kidnapping and other criminal activities in the state.

He said the activities of vandals were affecting the economic wellbeing of the region, calling on aggrieved youths not to resort to destroying pipelines and other oil facilities.

Sara-Igbe, while thanking Belema oil for providing 520 jobs for youths in the state, warned the youths to desist from cultism, pipeline vandalism and every other activity that would threaten peace in the area.

“We are making this protest so that youths will shun armed robbery, oil theft and embrace peace so that investors can come in and invest in the state and in the region,” he said.

“Rivers youths are now on their feet to protect those investors that will come into the state. We do not want our youths to be disturbing investors.”