Following the directives from the Nigerian Police against the August 5th rally against Cultism in Calabar, the National Youth Council of Nigeria Calabar South Chapter has suspended it’s plans to go on with the program thereby yielding to the detect of the Nigerian Police.
In a media brief with press men in Calabar, the Chairman NYCN Comr. Effanga Offiong disclosed that the long planned rally which is part of the International Youth Day Celebration program for the local government with long term notifications sent to the security agencies have been abruptly cancelled by the orders of the Commissioner of Police, Cross River State.
He briefed that the Commissioner had explained that the Nigerian police lacks the needed manpower and security cover to guarantee the security of such program and would rather have them indoors.
But pointers have indicated that the rally concise with the Nationwide planned revolutionary protest staged by the already detained Omoyele Sowore and his partner Edris Abdukareem which may be the reason for such unconstitutional bridge of the right to expression by the Nigerian Police against it’s citizens.
The Chapter youth council believes that this may dampen the enthusiasm of her members and pleaded that such distractions be treated with leniency as other programs in the week stands as announced.
We must as a matter of National Security also take into consideration the roles of mischievous elements, who may infiltrate our ranks and mastermind their evil agenda that day as we are aware there will be another protest which is triggered nationwide.
Security is everyone’s business and our body will not risk the life of anyone in the cause of discharging our duties. We will work with the police to ensure that our environment is safe.
He also added that a more convenient date will be chosen to for the program.