A group of protesters assembled in the South-south part of Nigeria to agitate against the alleged persecution of Patience Jonathan by the anti-graft agency after a suspicious $15 million was linked to her.
Hundreds of members of the Ijaw Youth Council staged a protest in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State on Thursday, October 6, 2016 to oppose the current investigation of the slush funds found in the accoun of the ex Nigerian First Lady - Patience Jonathan by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
According to report from an eye witness, the aggrieved Ijaw youths complained about the alleged persecution of former President Goodluck Jonathan and members of his family.
It was gathered that human and vehicular movements along Sani Abacha Road and Isaac Boro Expressway in Yenagoa was disrupted due to the protest that began about 8am.
The protesters, who carried out their agitation under heavy security presence, also alleged that the Muhammdu Buhari administration had not been funding the interventionist agencies and projects in the Niger Delta.
As a result of the protest, business and commercial activities were disrupted for some hours in the metropolis. Also, there was congestion in some parts of the metropolis which forced motorists and commercial drivers to make a detour to escape the heavy traffic jam.
Passengers and commuters were stranded as many were seen trekking to get to their workplaces and business centres. Riot policemen were seen blocking some parts of the roads to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
Many of the protesters, during the protest, were seen chanting protest songs with placards bearing inscriptions such as, ‘Stop harassing Jonathan’s family’, ‘Leave Patience Jonathan alone’, ‘If you must probe Dame Patience Jonathan, all the former first ladies must be probed’, and ‘We need projects in Niger Delta, not soldiers.’
President of IYC, Mr. Udengs Eradiri, while addressing co-protesters in front of the headquarters of IYC, said that the protest was to send a message to Federal Government about the attitude of the EFCC towards the family of Jonathan.
He said the country had produced a lot of first ladies but the only one from the Niger Delta was constantly harassed by the EFCC. Rumours have it that the protesters were paid for the task as it has become a norm in Nigeria especially in high-profile cases involving public personalities.
Below are more of the photos taken during the protest: