Criminals have hijacked secessionist agitation in South East – NYCN

The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), has raised concerns about the rising spate of killings in the South Eastern part of the country saying the secessionist agenda led by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has been hijacked by the some criminal elements in the region.

In a message to commemorate Nigeria’s 61st anniversary, President of NYCN, Solomon Adodo who raised concerns over the degenerating situation in the Southeast, warned that the killings and continuous disruption of economic activities were hurting the southeast economically, socially, and psycho-spiritually.

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He said: “It has to stop. Hardened criminals have now hijacked the secessionist agitation by a section of the region and has turned it into a murderous criminal venture. I urge the youth of that Geopolitical Zone to rally against criminality. We also encourage the Federal Government to address the situation there, using both security measures and dialogue.”

Adodo who revealed ongoing plans to flag off an agricultural project to address the rising prices of food items, added that other programmes have been drawn up to enable youths explore their potentials in digital economy and other areas where opportunities abound.

“The NYCN is working with governments (at the Federal and States) to develop sustainable economic ventures that will engage a vast number of youths productively.

“These programmes are youth-based solutions which are products of exhaustive engagements with youth stakeholders. One of these is the AGRIVOLUTION Project which will address the many problems of youths in agriculture and the challenge of meteorically rising food prices.”