The ex-military governor of Rivers state, Alfred Diete-Spiff, who is currently the chairman of the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council palace was vandalised by hoodlums in Twon-Brass, Southern Bayelsa State on Wednesday.
The people of Brass were said to be protesting against the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) over a prolonged power outage, refusal to pay indigenous contractors and non-compliance with its corporate social responsibility in its host communities.
Responding to the incident, the Brass chapter of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) condemned the attack saying it would not condone any disrespect to the Monarch from indigenes or foreigners.
In a statement issued by the IYC Chairman, Hello Richard and representative of the Ijaw clan, Benjamin Tustin, the group said: “Our attention has been drawn to the shooting of a protester by military personnel during a peaceful protest by the people of the Twon Brass Kingdom in Brass Council against Agip.
“From our findings, the protest, triggered into chaos after some persons hijacked it and started fomenting trouble in the process, which eventually led to the attack on Diete-Spiff.
“We further learnt that while trying to protect the monarch, a soldier shot one of the protesters in the leg and the situation generated tension in the community. The shooting took place when some persons hijacked the protest and destroyed part of the palace.”
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