• • • Beaten blue, black, chased away by Niger Delta agitators

Some hoodlums posing as Niger Delta Agitators were on Thursday beaten blue and black and later arrested by security operatives attached to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Abuja.

Investigations revealed that the hoodlums had been mobilized from Gwagalada by some faceless individuals to carry a mock coffin, while protesting over the non-inauguration of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) board.

It was also learnt that when some Ijaw youths got wind of the development and ran to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, the hoodlums took to their heals after being given the beatings of their lives.

Some of the hoodlums, it was later gathered, had already been handed over to the Divisional Police Officer, Ministry of Niger Delta, Abdulahi Abubakar, who confirmed the development to our 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.”

Also speaking, 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.”

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