Police arrest 18 suspects, rescue 80 NYSC members
The police in Bayelsa State have announced the arrest of 18 persons suspected to be involved in Tuesday’s clash between the police and protesters at the Niger Delta University (NDU), Amasuma which reportedly led to the death of two persons. A statement by the police spokesman, DSP Asinim Butswat, on Wednesday, however denied the death […]
The police in Bayelsa State have announced the arrest of 18 persons suspected to be involved in Tuesday’s clash between the police and protesters at the Niger Delta University (NDU), Amasuma which reportedly led to the death of two persons.
A statement by the police spokesman, DSP Asinim Butswat, on Wednesday, however denied the death of any person during the fracas.
He also announced that the command has rescued about 80 youth corps members who were vulnerable to attack, from Amassoma community and handed them over to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) officials in Yenagoa.
He disclosed that the command has deployed additional security personnel to contain the protest and restore normalcy in the community.
According to the police command, “Following the ongoing reforms by the Bayelsa State Government, in ministries, agencies and parastatals in the state, some workers of NDU protested and shut the gate of the university for over one month.
“This fragmented the staff of the university into pro and anti-reforms. Evidently, some non-workers of the NDU had infiltrated the riotous crowd,” it said.
Butswat added that, “Consequently, on May 21, the command deployed security personnel to the university. On arrival at the gate, the detachment of policemen met a hostile crowd, that fired shots at them. The police had to use reasonable force to contain the hostile protesters.
“In the ensuing melee, two police officers were injured; five police vehicles vandalized and the protesters attacked the Amassoma Police Division.
“Meanwhile, 18 suspects have been arrested for riotous behavior, attack on Police Station and police officers. The suspects will soon be charged to court,” the PPRO said.