City Boy Movement Says No Violence At Owerri’s Renewed Hope Youth Rally

The Imo State Chapter of the City Boy Movement has dismissed reports of violence and stampede during the recently concluded Renewed Hope National Youth Tour held in Owerri, describing the claims as misleading and politically motivated.

Addressing journalists at a press conference in Owerri, the State Coordinator of the movement, Prince Francis Uzor, alongside the State Leader, Dr. Ijeoma Kalu; the State Organizing Secretary, Hon. Dr. Moses Odeghe; and other members of the state executive of the group, insisted that the programme was peaceful and well organized.

According to them, the Renewed Hope National Youth Tour (South-East Edition) took place in Owerri, Imo State, between March 13 and 14, 2026 aimed at empowering over 20,000 youths through entrepreneurship support, digital skills training and agricultural empowerment which was achieved.

Uzor said the event was led by Seyi Tinubu and other leaders of the City Boy Movement, which featured workshops, engagement sessions and the distribution of empowerment items to beneficiaries.

Reacting to reports circulating on social media about a stampede, they maintained that no such incident occurred.

According to them, the distribution process took some time due to the large number of beneficiaries, adding that the items were shared in an orderly manner.

According to them, some level of impatience among participants eager to receive their empowerment items created a brief moment of rowdiness, but it did not escalate into violence.

They added that Seyi Tinubu insisted that the empowerment materials were meant for the people and directed organizers to ensure that beneficiaries received their allocated items.

According to him, items distributed during the programme included laptops, small business grants, mobile phones, freezers, generators, farmers’ packs, hairdressing kits, barbering kits, wheelchairs, grinding machines and sewing machines.

Further, he said the programme provided an opportunity to educate participants about the achievements and programmes of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The City Boy Imo State leadership disclosed that political appointees of the President used the platform to brief citizens on various opportunities and government initiatives designed to benefit youths and entrepreneurs, particularly of South-East extraction.

They stated that participants at the event were mainly supporters of the All Progressives Congress, supporters of the President and members of the City Boy Movement.

However, the state City Boy Movement leadership accused opposing political actors of spreading misinformation after witnessing the large turnout recorded at the event.

According to Uzor, the attempts to label participants as “village boys” were part of efforts to discredit the programme, noting that many attendees were seen wearing branded caps and T-shirts associated with the Renewed Hope initiative.

Meanwhile, the City Boy Movement has reiterated its commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, and urged him to continue implementing policies and programmes aimed at transforming the country and empowering Nigerian youths.

The group also expressed assurance that the South-East would continue to support the Tinubu administration and its development initiatives.