Senator Dino Melaye has weighed in on the chaotic scene that unfolded at a City Boys Movement empowerment event in Owerri, Imo State, where crowds overwhelmed organisers and seized multiple items intended for distribution.
According to social media users and eyewitness videos circulating online, groups described by some observers as village boys reportedly rushed the venue where empowerment items were being handed out. The situation led to confusion and disorder as the materials, including empowerment goods brought for beneficiaries, were taken amid the commotion.
Reacting on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Melaye criticised what he described as the takeover of the event by those he referred to as village boys, saying they “invaded” the programme and “took what rightfully belonged to them,” leaving the City Boys — the intended recipients — scattered and unable to access the items. He underscored the incident as an example of popular power and solidarity among ordinary Nigerians.
The City Boys Movement empowerment initiative, which has featured distributions of cars, sewing machines, and other tools aimed at supporting youths and vulnerable groups, had drawn significant attention in Imo State. However, the latest event’s disruption has sparked debate online, with many questioning crowd control and the fairness of how the materials were accessed during the Owerri engagement.
The exchange highlights the rising prominence of grassroots movements and their interplay with organised empowerment efforts, as well as the challenges organisers face in managing large and enthusiastic crowds. Read_More…