DESOPADEC Bursary: IYC Egbema clan expresses disappointment over alleged police shooting, brutalization of protesting students

By Anita Godfrey

The Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Egbema Clan acting chairman, Comr. Rufus Micheal Ebiwei has expressed disappointment over the alleged police shooting and brutalization of protesting students at the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC’s gate on Wednesday.

This was contained in a press statement signed by himself and sent to Congress correspondent in Warri, Delta State on Wednesday evening.

The statement reads, “I’m disappointed at the management of DESOPADEC and its security for pressing the trigger on peaceful protesters for demanding common bursary payment. Don’t waste your bullets on innocent students, it is shameful.
Those managing Desopadec should also think back at their days in school, what they have done to our students is annoying. I feel leadership failure on the part of the commission.”

He maintained, “Desopadec bursary survived me during my university days. I was a one-time Senate President of the National Union of Izon-Ibe Students (NUIS), Novena chapter. I know how things used to be difficult for students sometimes. If a whole oil commission cannot pay bursary, meaning Okowa has killed the commission.

“Instead of using their office to address the situation on the ground, then they are using the security agents to intimidate the students just because they demanded their rights? This is uncalled for! It is shameful and disappointing. I call on every well-meaning Nigerian to condemn the heinous crime perpetrated by Desopadec and its security operatives.

“It is part of my demands that with immediate effect the students’ outstanding bursary allowances be paid,” he added.