A group under auspices of the Ukhomunyio Youth Association, Edo State, has strongly condemned a protest that took place last month in Okpella community of the state which claimed two lives and left others injured.
The group made this condemnation in a statement jointly signed by its National President, Omoalu Merry and the General Secretary, Afiabor God’sluck Sunday, urging the security agencies to fish out the organizers of the protest and prosecute.
While dissociating itself from the protest, the group lamented that all pleas to stop the organizers from staging the protest ended in futility, adding, “We vehemently condemn it and call on the security agencies to come against the culprits.”
The UYA in a statement title, ‘Our position on the violence of 28th day of June 2023 in Okpella and the need to bring culprits to book’ said, “We the undersigned, Youth Leaders of Ukhomunyio Community, have reassessed the unfortunate and avoidable crises of 28 day of June 2023, which can only be best described as unfortunate and have decided to issue this press statement.
“The unfortunate protest cut short the lives of two vibrant young men and left few others with various degrees of injuries.
“We make bold to state that the said protest would have remained a myth rather than a reality if the organizers had listened to the voice of reason.
“We are peace loving people and as such will not subscribe to unnecessary youth unrest in our community.
“We understand and encourage peaceful protest of any form, borne out of genuine interest and intention, especially for the betterment of our community.
“But we must state unequivocally that we condemn any form of rascality under the guise of protest, which we undeniably saw on the 28 day of June, 2023.
“Protests do not just happen as a matter of leisure. They happen out of genuine interest. They come up only if and when peaceful engagements have been made with interested parties. It doesn’t take the form of ‘cult regroupings’ or strength showmanship.
“It’s a serious business and as such has rules and regulations. For the avoidance of doubt, when the news of the intended protest filtered into our ears, we quickly called the organizers and asked them to stop it immediately as indications pointed that it had no genuine formation and character.
“We distanced ourselves from it as a community. But unfortunately, the organizers went ahead to put the entire community in a state of topsy-turvy and hullabaloo which it will take a very long time to recover from.
“Our old mothers and aged fathers were at the receiving end of the actions and reactions therefrom. It was definitely an eye-sore. We vehemently condemn it and call on the security agencies to come against the culprit.
“It was not an Ukhomunyio affair in any form and shape. As a matter of fact, they brought us disgrace and made us vulnerable to the Nigerian Army’s reaction.”
