Youths hijack motorcycles from poverty alleviation scheme beneficiaries

from the Nigerian Tribune

Uchechukwu Olisah, Benin City

RAMPAGING youths at the weekend stormed Ologbo community in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State and forcibly took away about 21 out of the 35 motorcycles distributed to cooperative societies in the area for poverty alleviation.

The motorcycles, the Nigerian Tribune gathered, had already been distributed to the cooperative groups representing Ologbo, Obagie, Obayantor and Amalgamated Ijaw/Itsekiri communities before the irate youth arrived at the distribution venue.

The beneficiaries, who are members of the cooperative societies and from whom the motorcycles were taken, had gathered at the instance of the state Oil and Gas Producing Areas Development Commission (EDOSOPADEC).

The incident reportedly took place after the chairman of the commission, Mr. Lawrence Ogieva, and the commissioner representing Ikpoba-Okha had left the venue.

Trouble was said to have started when youths who did not benefit from the poverty alleviation scheme of the commission invaded the venue, firing gunshots into the air immediately after the formal closing ceremony of the event.

It was in the ensuing confusion and panic created by the gunshots that the youth made away with the bikes.