Setting The Record Straight On The Incident At Federal High Court Asaba Yesterday During The Case Between FRN v. Micah Polo & Ors -

PRESS STATEMENT

Concerned Delta Youths & Save Delta Youths.

Setting the Record Straight on the Asaba Court Incident between FRN v. Micah Polo & ors.

Our attention has been drawn to several misleading and false reports being circulated on social media by certain Itsekiri youths and media operatives concerning the recent events that occurred at the Federal High Court, Asaba premises in Asaba. It has become necessary to clarify the facts and set the record straight.

On the said day, members of Concerned Delta Youths and Save Delta Youths gathered peacefully at the court premises with the sole purpose of conducting a lawful and non-violent demonstration. Our objectives were clearly defined as follows:

To call on the Delta State Government and the judiciary to take the ongoing case involving Micah Polo and the Olu of Itsekiri seriously, as reports indicate that Itsekiri youths have allegedly begun violent attacks against Urhobo and Ijaw communities in Warri.
To urge the Court and the Department of State Services (DSS)to re-arrest Micah Polo pending the conclusion of his trial, given the serious allegations that he procured firearms with the intent to incite violence, target Ijaws and Urhobos, and sabotage federal government facilities, an act purportedly aimed at obstructing the announcement of the delineation results by INEC.
To demand that the trial remain in Delta State, where the events in question took place, and that it be conducted as an open and transparent trial, ensuring fairness, justice, and public confidence. The people of Warri Federal Constituency, in particular, deserve to feel safe and protected.

Upon arriving at the court premises, we observed the presence of over 200 Itsekiri youths inside and outside loitering around the premises. Despite noticing this unusual gathering, we proceeded peacefully with our planned demonstration. Journalists from Daily Reports, Coastal Times, and Magmega TV were on-site to cover the event.

However, before the demonstration could commence, the Itsekiri youths and their hired thugs suddenly launched an unprovoked attack. They first assaulted a journalist from Daily Reports, kicking his camera and physically attacking him. As Magmega TV attempted to capture the incident live on Facebook, their correspondent was forced to flee for safety.

The attackers turned on us with daggers and machetes, resulting in injuries to one of our member, an Urhobo youth, who sustained severe machete cuts. He was immediately rushed to Asaba General Hospital for treatment.

We returned to the court to observe the proceedings, only to find that the Itsekiri attackers had fled the scene before the session concluded. The available video footage and eyewitness accounts from journalists clearly confirm this sequence of events.

We challenge anyone with contrary claims to produce credible evidence.

We reaffirm that our movement remains committed to peace, justice, and the rule of law. We urge security agencies to investigate the incident thoroughly and bring the perpetrators to justice to prevent further ethnic tension and insecurity in Delta State.

Signed:

Concerned Delta Youths & Save Delta Youths