By CrossRiverWatch Admin
The death of 15 year old Adeh Kyrian from injuries allegedly suffered from the beatings he received from acclaimed members of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) in Obudu Local Government Area of northern Cross River has sparked riots.
The boy, a suspected gangster, reports suggests, was accused of stealing NGN10,000 from his father who then handed him to the NYCN for discipline on Friday.
He died Saturday evening with claims that he had succumbed to the beatings.
And, sources say he was beaten to a pulp by NYCN members suspected to be members of a rival gang.
This, is said to have prompted dozens to go in search of those who allegedly participated in the beating, a situation, that would later degenerate into a full blown riot leading to the death of two including on James Undie and the destruction of some properties.
To curb the spread of violence, the council Chairman, Boniface Ewhe told CrossRiverWatch Newsroom that he had to travel about 60 kilometers to the Godwin Ally cantonment of the Nigerian Army in Ogoja Local Government Area to invite soldiers to aid in the restoration of law and order.
He later proscribed the NYCN in a statement signed by him.
“I condemn in strong terms the brutal beating to death, of an innocent 15 year old boy; by some group of boys operating illegally and parading themselves under the guise of ‘Youth Council of Nigeria, Obudu Chapter. Due to the very ugly incident, I hereby proscribe them and all their activities,” read the statement.
It further read: “The said boys and their affiliate organisations are not recognised and given permission by government or security agencies to arrest, detain or interrogate anyone accused of committing any crime.
“I urge the public to remain calm, law abiding and cease to relate with any person or group of persons, as ‘Youth Council’ in Obudu LGA as the police commences thorough investigation into the unfortunate incident.
“All Security Operatives within our reach have been deployed to ease the situation and we are currently working closely with them to ensure that normalcy returns to our peaceful town.”
Mr. Ewhe said those involved will be made to face the “full wrath” of law.
As at press time, normalcy is said to have returned in the Town.
Editor’s Note: In an earlier version of this story, Mr. Adeh Kyrian’s name was not included and Mr. James Undie was reported as the victim of the beating. This has been corrected in the lede paragraph. The late Undie’s name was also included in the fifth paragraph.