The murder of Alafuro Peterside by a trigger-happy police officer in Rivers State have continued to generate angry reactions from members of the Ijaw Youth Council.
The group, while condemning the killing of Peterside, stormed the Rivers State Police Command to protest.
Speaking at the protest ground, the President of Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide, Jonathan Lokpobiri, demanded for justice for the deceased, whom he described as their member and brother.
According to the youth leader, the group will continue to demand justice for Peterside.
He said, “We are here in solidarity with our brother who was brutally killed by an officer of the Nigerian Police Force, Rivers State.
“But as disciplined people, we have a moral duty to fight for justice peacefully.
“We are here before the Rivers State Police Command Headquarters to have a conversation with the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, with the leadership of the Ijaw Youth Council, who represents this broken family as well as the Ijaw nation.
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“One admonition I can give to you is that we have a moral duty to remain peaceful and conduct ourselves peacefully; the police is not your friend.”
He lamented that their first visit to the police station to register their displeasure over what happened, they were tagged hoodlums.
“We are here to demonstrate our displeasure over the brutal murder of Alafuro Peterside from Opobo by a trigger-happy police officer last Thursday.
“We’re here to meet with the police. Part of the reason is that this incident happened a couple of days ago with no official statement from the Police Command, and every attempt to resolve this issue has been met with ridicule and difficulties.
“But, today, we have an opportunity to have a conversation with the leadership of the Nigerian police to find a solution to this. So that we don’t appear like we’re enemies forced to live together in a society,” he added.
He said their demands would be relayed to the police and not revealed to the public.
Peterside was shot dead last two weeks by a police officer in the presence of his wife and children at a beer parlour in Elekohia community, Port Harcourt City Local Government of Rivers State.
The Rivers State Police Command had also announced the arrest of the police officer as it investigates the matter, with the assurance that he would be charged to court if found culpable.