From Austine Tule, Makurdi
Heavily armed men of the Nigerian Police Force at the weekend disrupted a planned protest by the apex youth body in Tiv land knwon as the Tiv Youth Organization (TYO), in Makurdi, the Benue state capital.
A journalist with Channels Television, African Independent Television and a host of others were reportedly attacked by the Police team with their gadzets allegedly seized from them.
The AUTHORITY gathered that the youths had gathered to vent their anger over unguided comments credited to the Minister for Special Duties and Inter-govetnmental governmental Afairs, Dr. George Akume on the Tiv Paramount ruler, Tor Tiv, James Ayatse.
The TYO according to information had however presented a letter of protest to the President -General of the Tiv Socio -cultural group (Mzough U Tiv) Chief Edward Ujege, for unward presentation to the Tiv Area Traditional Council before the arrival of the Police team.
President -General of the TYO , Timothy Hembaor while describing the action of the Police as most unfortunate insisted that the group would remain resolute in seen that the sanctity of the Tor Tiv stool was protected by all Tiv sons, their standing in the society not withstanding.
He re-echeod the group’s call on Sen. Akume to Publicly apologize to the Tiv Nation within seven days failure of which he said will be visited with grave consequences by the youth.
Some youth who had gathered for the protest were noticed been whisked away by the Police team while others ostensibly for fear of been handed the same treatment scampered for safety according to eyewitness.
