The National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP) and youth wing of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) have called for the immediate and unconditional release of the paramount ruler of Yeghe community, Chief Barinaadaa T D Gbaranee, “by men of the Nigerian Army.”

The youths who expressed their misgivings in a statement signed by the President of NYCOP, Dr Young A Nkpah, condemned the abduction of the paramount ruler of the community.

A statement issued in Bori on Friday, a copy of which was made available to News Express, said: “NYCOP wishes to place on record that it is disheartening to note that it is only in Ogoni that persons of high stake in the society can be treated as common criminals.”

The statement added a disturbing note: “The Army should save us from remembering that we are fifth-class citizens. We demand the immediate release of Chief Gbaranee and an apology granted him.”

Meanwhile, a report by Ogoni News said this afternoon that “thousands of women, pupils and students of primary schools and Bua Yeghe Community Secondary School in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State are now on the streets calling on the military hierarchy to immediately release their monarch, HRH Barinaadaa T.D. Gbaranee who was whisked away by men of the Nigerian Army stationed in Bori.”

“Chief Barinaadaa T.D Gbaranee the Paramount ruler of Bua Yeghe Community in Gokana Local Government Area was arrested by the Army on his way back from Bori on Monday,” the report said.

It noted that “the Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers (COTRA) have also repeated their condemnation of the abduction of the paramount ruler of Yeghe community calling for his immediate release.”

•Photo shows Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai.