Akwa Ibom Youths Block NNPC’s Rivers Office Over Indigene’s Death
Akwa Ibom youths residing in Rivers State have occupied the premises of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) along Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, in protest against the death of one of their own.
Reports state that, on Tuesday this week, an Akwa Ibom indigene, Asher Christopher, 23, a cleaner with the company reportedly died inside the facility.
The circumstances leading to the death remain unexplained.
Despite heavy rainfall, the protesting youths arrived at the premises at 10 am, bearing placards and palm frond leaves, and requesting the corpse of the dead youth.
The father of the deceased, Mr Dan Christopher, had, a day ago, raised alarm over his son’s death while addressing members of the press.
Read Also: NNPC Blames Fuel Scarcity On Rain and Thunder
The protesters split themselves in two with some occupying the entrance of the NNPC premises and others heading for the nearby Rivers State Police Command Headquarters.
In a bid to avert any commotion, the security guards at NNPC were quick to shut the gate and bar the protesters from gaining entrance.
The protesters, undefied, mounted a blockade of the offices.
In reaction to the ordeal, when contacted, the Spokesman for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed Asher’s death on Thursday.
Koko asserted that the corpse had been deposited in a mortuary and that the police had begun a thorough investigation into the matter.
