The youth, under the auspices of the Niger Delta Youth Leadership Forum, also demanded the establishment of oil and gas colony for the region against the backdrop of plans by the Federal Government to establish cattle colony for the herdsmen. He said establishing colonies for herdsmen was wrong, adding that it was the duty of herdsmen as private business owners to be responsible for the progress of their business interests. Akinaka said, “As a people, we have taken that position that herdsmen are private businesspeople. But if that is what the government wants to do, we are asking for oil and gas colony for our people too. We suffer environmental problems.’’He advised members of the Niger Delta Avengers to always engage in intellectual struggle in advancing their agitations rather than resorting to old-fashioned idea of armed struggle.

Source: Punch January 20, 2018 23:15 UTC