Group condemns Rivers’ violence

The Ijaw Youth Council has condemned the violence in some parts of Rivers State during the legislative election rerun in the state last Saturday.

The group, in a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Eric Omare, on Thursday, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate the roles of security agencies, political leaders and the Independent National Electoral Commission in the rerun.

The IYC claimed that the information available to the council indicated that more than 15 persons died during the violence that greeted the election.

The IYC said, “We strongly believe that the statements of the major political players in the days leading to the elections heightened tension and contributed to the violence during the election. Political leaders in Rivers State did not display a high sense of responsibility that was expected of them.”