Youths in Rumuolumeni community, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area in Rivers State, have on Tuesday protested against the arrest of their leaders by some operatives of Nigeria Navy Pathfinder in the area.

The protesters came out in the morning and blocked major roads leading to the community with trucks and tankers.   

A representative of the youths, Henry Amaehule, called for the release of the arrested youths Chairman and vice chairman, Community Development.

He said “We demand the immediate release of the CTC Chairman, the Employment Bureau Chairman, Vice-chairman of CTC in Rumuolumeni and other members of the Executives. We call on the Governor of Rivers State to intervene because we have really suffered in hands of the Navy.

“They came down to Rumuolumeni yesterday and whisked away our Chairman. What led to their arrest is as result of a simple peaceful protest. The Chairman of the Community Employment Bureau went to the naval yard to meet the management of Ocean Marine Solutions Limited seek employment for the youths of the community.”

The protesters carried placards with the inscriptions: “NNS Pathfinder stop intimidating us”, “We are peace-loving Community”, “Ocean Marine Solutions please employ our youths.”

It was disclosed that joint task force made up of the Nigerian Army, Police and the Nigeria Navy have been deployed to the area to ensure that there is no security breach.

Also, negotiations to end the protest has started with representatives of the Rumuolumeni Chiefs, Elders, Navy and other stakeholders at the Palace of Paramount ruler, Eze Ndubueze Wobo.