Isoko youths barricade Ughelli/Asaba highway to protest alleged marginalisation

By EDEKI IGAFE

Youths of Isoko ethnic nationality in Delta Monday barricaded the ever-busy Emevor-Ughelli-Asaba highway to protest alleged marginalisation by the state government and oil companies.

The protest by the aggrieved youths, under the aegis of Isoko Development Union Youths Wing (IDUYW), disrupted traffic and socio-economic activities in the area.

The protest also caused heavy loss of man-hours as motorists and commuters got stuck in the heavy gridlock for hours.

The angry youths in their hundreds, carried placards bearing different inscriptions, such as “We demand the release of the N10 million Social Security Fund for Isoko Youths”, among others.

Addressing newsmen, the President of IDUYW, Mr Obokpaino Fidelis, said that the protest was prompted by the alleged marginalisation of the group by the state government and oil companies, operating in Isokoland.

According to Fidelis, the group was created in 2020 to handle youth activities in Isokoland.

He regretted that the state government had not granted audience to the group since it’s creation 16 months ago.

“We are being denied our due from the oil companies’ corporate social responsibility programmes.

“Whenever we approached them for dialogue, they refused granting us audience.

“Also, the Isoko youths are being marginalised from the N10 million Social Security Fund, which the state government is giving to other ethnic nationalities in the state.

“That is why we are here to express our displeasure to the state government and all multinationals oil companies operating in Isokoland through a peaceful protest,” Fidelis said.

The Speaker, Delta House of Assembly, Mr Sheriff Oborevwori, who ran into the protesters while returning to Asaba, appealed for calm.

Oborevwori assured them that the house would look into their demands and present them to Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa for positive action. (NAN)