The President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri, has vowed to rid the organisation of individuals who exploit its platform for criminal activities.
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His reaction follows the arrest of an IYC member, George Idumange, popularly known as Pastor Brandy, in connection with the murder of Richard Ekpebu, an Estate Agent, in Bayelsa State.
Lokpobiri described the incident as one of the saddest moments in the history of the Council, noting that the victim was also a member of the IYC.
He said:
“This is one of the saddest moments in our Council’s history. I feel deeply grieved because the victim of this dastardly act is one of us.
“To be candid, I am quite happy with what the police have done. I will personally visit the Commissioner of Police and the officer in charge of Operation Puff Adder, Chris, for their painstaking efforts in unraveling the mystery behind the death of our member.
“I pray that if the police establish that Pastor Brandy is responsible for this death, then the heaviest weight of the law should be applied. I also pray that nobody interferes with the justice system and that justice is swiftly served, because there is no way to describe the height of this evil.
“This is a very sad moment for us, and there will be no cover-up for anyone involved in this matter.”
Lokpobiri affirmed that the police are free to do their job and assured that the IYC will fully support any effort by security agencies to uncover those behind Ekpebu’s death.
He stated that sanitizing the Council of criminal elements is necessary, as some individuals hide under the IYC’s name to carry out personal illicit activities, despite years of effort by others to build the Council’s reputation.
“Every Ijaw youth is allowed to be part of our struggle if they choose to, but crime must be treated as an individual crime. I am saddened that the IYC name keeps getting mentioned in crimes that are purely the actions of individuals,” he said.
Lokpobiri commended the police for arresting the suspect in Lagos and expressed personal satisfaction with their efforts. He pledged the IYC’s full cooperation with investigations.
Reiterating that the actions of one person should not tarnish the organisation’s image, he said:
“Individual crimes must be treated as individual crimes.”
He also urged members aware of criminal activities to report them to the authorities.
The IYC President advised Ijaw youths to be vigilant, stressing the need for surveillance due to unreported crimes and prevailing security challenges in Bayelsa.
He issued a stern warning against the unauthorized use of IYC number plates or insignia for personal activities and directed the police to arrest offenders and impound their vehicles.
Lokpobiri reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to integrity and highlighted ongoing initiatives, such as the construction of a skill development and training centre to empower youths. He called for collective efforts to promote what is right in the Ijaw nation and the Niger Delta, rejecting any form of support for crime.
He also expressed appreciation for the Bayelsa State Governor’s commitment to peace, noting that the IYC intends to collaborate positively with the state government.
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