Residents of Koko community in Warri North local government area of Delta State have taken to the streets to protest against the unlawful abduction of Esimaje Oboyo, a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) youth leader and 3 others by members of the Niger-Delta militants.
Esimaje Oboyo and 3 others namely Ejiro Oghenevwede, Tega Brume and Bernard Ejoor, who are staunch supporters of the People’s Democratic Party and were abducted several weeks ago and taken into the creeks .
The protesters, who marched across the entire Koko community, comprise mainly mothers carried placards bearing inscription such as “Release our youths for us . They are not part of your criminal activities in the creek” while another insisted that “Free Esimaje Oboyo and 3 others now .”
Speaking with our correspondent, the Leader of the protesting group simply identified as Timi said his cousin Bernard Ejoor was one of the kidnapped victims of the Niger-Delta militants.
According toTimi, his brother and his 3 friends were never given to criminal activities rooted in militancy as they considered militants as criminal elements in the society hell-bent on sabotaging government’s developmental efforts through unlawful abductions of expatriates and destruction of oil installations including vessels on the high sea and also machinery for election rigging, snatching of ballots boxes and lot more.
“We are giving the militants 24-hours to release our brothers to us and let them reunite with their families. Anything short of their unconditional release is unacceptable because immediately we leave here, we are taking our case to the state government, and the security agencies in the state for immediate action.” Timi added.
Another protester, a female identified as Angela Onos, while appealing to security agencies including the Nigerian Police to help secure the unconditional release of the 4 youths, said it was quite appalling and regrettable to see how youths in the Niger-Deelta region have taken to criminal abductions through active participation in militancy activities adding that government must urgently nip the criminal activities of the militants in the bud by creating an enabling environment for businesses to strive as this will further create more job opportunities for the teeming youths .
She however appealed to the militants to release unconditionally the 4 abducted youths adding that the 4 youths are law-abiding citizens who are strongly against forceful abductions of innocent citizens for militancy activities in the creeks.
Meanwhile, the protesters have vowed to continue with their struggle by marching across the state and the Delta State Command of the Nigerian Police and the Delta State House of Assembly to register their displeasure until their needs are met .
