IYC demands justice over member’s murder by police
Members of the Ijaw Youth Council have demanded justice over the murder of Alafuro Peterside by a happy trigger police officer.
The President of Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide, Jonathan Lokpobiri, made the demand during a protest at the Rivers State Police Command, where they condemned the gruesome murder of their member and brother.
Lokpobiri said IYC as a group will not relent in the demand for justice until the killer of Peterside is brought to justice.
“We are here in solidarity with our brother who was brutally killed by an officer of the Nigerian Police Force, Rivers State.
“But as disciplined people, we have a moral duty to fight for justice peacefully.
“We are here before the Rivers State Police Command Headquarters to have a conversation with the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, with the leadership of the Ijaw Youth Council, who represents this broken family as well as the Ijaw nation.
“One admonition I can give to you is that we have a moral duty to remain peaceful and conduct ourselves peacefully; the police is not your friend,” he said.
“The first day we were here, our mission was misconstrued, where we were described as hoodlums. We are not. We won’t allow the description of others about our mission here.
“We are here to demonstrate our displeasure over the brutal murder of Alafuro Peterside from Opobo by a trigger-happy police officer last Thursday.
“We’re here to meet with the police. Part of the reason is that this incident happened a couple of days ago with no official statement from the Police Command, and every attempt to resolve this issue has been met with ridicule and difficulties.
“But, today, we have an opportunity to have a conversation with the leadership of the Nigerian police to find a solution to this. So that we don’t appear like we’re enemies forced to live together in a society,” he added.
He said their demands would be relayed to the police and not revealed to the public.
Peterside was shot dead last two weeks by a police officer in the presence of his wife and children at a beer parlour in Elekohia community, Port Harcourt City Local Government of Rivers State.
The Rivers State Police Command had also announced the arrest of the police officer as it investigates the matter, with the assurance that he would be charged to court if found culpable.
