The ongoing protest by the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) over the yet-to-be constituted substantive board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has received a hard knock by a Niger Delta group.
A fledging militant group, the 21st Century Youths of Niger Delta and Agitators with Conscience (21st CYNDAC), said IYC’s, protest was unwarranted and misguided.
The 21st CYNDAC in a statement on Wednesday by its Coordinator, Izon Ebi, also demanded a thorough investigation into the purported kidnap of the President of the IYC, Peter Igbifa.
The group said it was absurd and ridiculous that the lYC leadership had commercialised the struggle with disgruntled stakeholders to bring the reverred name of the Ijaw youths umbrella body into disrepute by allegedly fanning the embers of disunity among the Niger Delta people.
The agitators said the demonstration was inauspicious now that all regions are forming a common security outfit to protect their people and their region from the rising insecurity across the country.
The 21st CYNDAC said: “The issue of Niger Delta security is supposed to be championed by the IYC for the protection of the people of the region rather; it is being jettisoned because of greed for quick money.
“Andoni in Rivers State, the hometown of the IYC president in Rivers State, is in pains and disarray. Cultists and sea pirates are on the prowl, ransacking seven communities and closing down schools in most of the communities.
“The purported kidnapping of the IYC president calls for sober reflection among our political leaders and royal fathers. IYC should have a rethink and allow the noble intention of President Muhammadu Buhari on forensic audit of the NDDC to be achieved.