Leadership (Abuja)
Osa Okhomina
13 October 2008
Yenagoa — The Nigerian Police Command in Bayelsa State at the weekend put its men on red alert over threats by rival factions of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) to shut down government activities in the state on today.
Special patrol Teams have been reportedly deployed in Yenagoa, the state capital, ahead of the planned protest of the IYC against the administration of Governor Timipre Sylva.
The Police Commissioner, Mr. Julian Okpaleke, said his command was aware of the text messages that had been sent to members of the public calling for a shut-down of government activities.
Okpaleke said he had beefed up security in the state and that his command was on top of the situation. leadership gathered that rivalry between the factions of the Ijaw Youth Council had become a threat to the peace and security of the state.
While the Winston Amain faction insisted on dialogue and maintainance of the prevailing peace in the state, another faction led by Odengs Eradiri, is urgently determined to go ahead with the protest and a shut down all government ministries today.
A text message that began circulating on Saturday night called all youths in the state to take their destiny in their hands to free themselves from the marginalization of the Sylva administration.
"Our destiny we must decide on Monday. No ministry will operate until jobs are provided to engage youths.
We must all come out. Better to be killed by the Joint Task Force demanding jobs than be killed as kidnappers and armed robbers or militants".
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