Multitude of youths of Bonny Kingdom in Rivers State early in the morning of Monday, July 15, 2024 protested across Bonny Island, demanding for the redeployment of the Divisional Police Officer of Bonny Division, Chijioke Anthony.

Kristina Reports team witnessed the blockade of the Roundabout at Hospital Road adjacent to the Commonwealth Cemetery, Bonny; the Akiama/Willbros Junction and the WIllbros Road junction along the Bodo/Bonny Road.

This effectively grounded traffic for vehicles conveying workers to various worksites as early as 5am, thus forcing the workers of various companies in Bonny Island to trek to their workplaces.  

At about 11am, the youths ended the siege and removed the barricades, allowing traffic to flow again with commuters heaving sighs of relief.

They subsequently moved in their numbers to the residence of the Chairman of the Bonny Chiefs Council (BCC), Se-Alabo Lt. Col. (Rtd) Dagogo Claude Wilcox where they briefed him on the protest.

Secretary of the Bonny Youth Federation (BYF), Omoni Sylvanus told the revered traditional ruler that the youths, who he said were drawn from the various chieftaincy houses, were angry over the appalling conduct of the DPO, expressing their appreciation to him for the support from him and his colleague chiefs.

He assured the BCC Chairman that the protest was only about the demand of the youths for the redeployment of the erring DPO, emphasizing that Bonny youths are peaceful and progress-oriented and have always supported the security agencies to succeed in ensuring the security of lives and properties.

Responding, the Chairman of the BCC, Se-Alabo Lt. Col. (Rtd) Dagogo Claude-Wilcox stated that the leadership of Bonny Kingdom was worried over the unprofessional conduct and lack of capacity of the DPO, promising that the BCC would engage the relevant Police authorities on the matter.

He assured the youths that their complaints and demand would be escalated to the Inspector General of Police and the State Commissioner of Police, expressing the hope that the police hierarchy would oblige the community and redeploy the DPO.

In an interview with Kristina Reports, Public Relations Officer of the Bonny Youth Federation (BYF), Tonye Willie-Pepple accused the DPO of vandalizing the residence of the Youth Leader of Bonny Kingdom and that of his father, a retired senior officer of the State Security Service (SSS) and titled citizen of Bonny Kingdom.   

He expressed worry about the conduct of the DPO, informing that at the core of the fracas was a minor traffic incident involving two vehicles, one of which, according to him, was discovered to allegedly belong to the DPO and was being used to transport materials to the Train 7 project site where the DPO is said to have a running contract.

On his part, Leader of the Youth Governors Forum of Jumbo Major House of Bonny Kingdom, Nengi Jumbo told Kristina Reports that the DPO himself has become a threat to security in Bonny Kingdom, thus the youths are demanding for his redeployment.

He explained that the youths of Jumbo Major House are part of the protest in solidarity with youths of other chieftaincy houses in Bonny Kingdom who are angry with the DPO for the unwarranted assault on the Leader of the Bonny Youth Federation, Anthony Banigo, saying only the redeployment of the Chijioke Anthony will suffice to appease them.