Leadership Tussle: Armed Ijaw Youths Invade Ben-Bruce’s Radio Station, Injure Many

Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa

Many persons were wounded at the premises of a radio station owned by Senator Ben Murray-Bruce on Thursday in Bayelsa after the leadership of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide invaded the station in an attempt to halt a live programme.

THISDAY gathered that the attack on the premises of Rhythm FM studios was a fallout of the leadership tussle between Mr Udengs Eradiri, President of the foremost Ijaw group, and Mr Wisdom Ikuli, who is laying claim to the position.

The programme, Talk of the Town, anchored by Lishman Onisodemuya, was reportedly on when the youths who stormed the studio in buses and other vehicles started shooting into the air, forcing employees in both the radio and television studios of Silverbird Group to run for safety.

Ikuli, National Mobilisation Officer of the IYC, it was learnt, and a self-acclaimed spokesman of the council, Mike Edounkimo, were thereafter dragged out during the live programme and seriously battered.

Ikuli and Edounkimor were said to have been thoroughly beaten with bruises all over their faces by the youths who attempted to bundle them into one of the vehicles before the intervention of the police.

The mob that gathered reportedly robbed employees of the studios of their money, mobile handsets and other prized possessions.

Following the imbroglio, the radio studio was temporarily shut down.

At the time of filing this story, the attackers had been picked up and taken to the Ekeki Police Station in Yenagoa, it was gathered.

Six of the 10-member executive council had recently unilaterally suspended Mr. Eradiri and the Spokesman, Mr. Eric Omare.

But the Parliament of the IYC, which has the power to sanction errant members said that due process was flouted by the dissident National Secretary-General, Bristol-Alagbariye Emmanuel; Director of Mobilisation, Ikuli; Legal Adviser, Ekine Egberekro; Assistant Secretary, Deinkoro George; National Women Leader, Felicia Ngeri and Financial Sercretary, Kemepado Alfred,who reportedly signed the document suspending the duo.

Further Details Later