… Soldiers Deployed To Affected Communities
Harboursandport.com: Bayelsa - The Bayelsa State government has imposed movement restrictions Kpanisa, Okaka, and Yenizue-Epie areas of the state capital following the stabbing to death of a young man identified as Edris Douglas.
The tricycle operator who is of northern extraction stabbed the victim to death over a disagreement over N50 transport fare.
The action led to reprisal attacks resulting in the lynching of the ‘Keke’ rider, burning of commercial tricycles along the Saptex junction, Kpanisa, Okaka, and Yenizue-Epie areas of the state capital causing the state government to restrict the movement of tricycles in the state capital from 7pm to 6am daily.
Youths, mostly from Yenizue-Epie community had stormed the entrance of the Bayelsa State Government House in protest after the tragic incident to demand an end to such incidents.
This is even as armed soldiers and police operatives have been deployed to the troubled area to avert escalation of reprisal attacks from both sides.
It was learned that the late Abuja-based Douglas had arrived in the state capital to see his wife who was put to bed recently before he met his untimely.
An eyewitness said the victim, who is in his early thirties boarded the tricycle from Opolo to Yenizue-Epie community, which according to him should be N100 but the tricycle rider insisted on N150 leading to disagreement which resulted in the stabbing of the passenger.
The situation degenerated as angry youths carried out reprisal attacks resulting in the death of the suspected operator and the burning of some commercial tricycles in the area.
Some of the protesting girls said the victim, Douglas, was their benefactor who supported them financially, regretting that his killing was a major blow to the Yenizue-Epie community.
Addressing the protesters, the lawmaker-elect for the Yenagoa/Kolokuma-Opokuma Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and former Chairman of Yenagoa Local Government Area, Mr. Oboku Oforji who described the incident as unfortunate appealed for calm from residents.
Also present were the Acting Chief of Staff Government House, Dr. Peter Akpe, and the Special Adviser on Security to the Governor, Mr. Agberebi Akpoebi, and others to address the protesters.
Meanwhile, Governor Douye Diri, has imposed an 11-hour restriction on commercial tricycles within the state capital, Yenagoa, and environs.
The directive restricting their movement is between 7pm and 6am daily
Diri gave the directive on Thursday during a meeting in Government House, Yenagoa, which had in attendance traditional rulers, the leadership of the tricycle operators, representatives of the Arewa community in the state as well as youths of the Yenizue-Epie community, and other stakeholders.
The governor said the restriction became necessary in order to calm frayed nerves and restore peace in the area. He said the order will last until the situation improved.
Diri in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, warned against reprisal attacks, stressing that government will not fold its arms and watch people take the laws into their hands.
He noted that there was no conflict between Bayelsans and the Arewa community in the state and warned those trying to carry out ethnic profiling to desist.
According to him, Bayelsans and other ethnic nationalities have existed harmoniously from the creation of the state, and that peaceful coexistence will be maintained.
His words, "We must behave as normal human beings. This youthful exuberance of getting angry over every issue must stop. There is no fight between Bayelsans and Hausas from the beginning of the creation of the state to date.
"Community leaders should educate our youths. Nobody will harass anybody in this state. If that happens, report to security agencies. The peace we enjoy here, we must all jealously guard it.
“I did not call this meeting for ethnic profiling. Rather it was meant to calm frayed nerves and to ensure that going forward we all live in peace.
"I hereby impose a restriction on all Keke (commercial tricycle) riders from 7pm to 6am. They are therefore expected to operate only in the daytime until the situation improved.
"Government will not accept any lawless behavior from anybody. Our laws have not given anybody the right to carry weapons.
“I thank the security agencies and critical stakeholders that have worked hard with us since yesterday to curtail the situation."
Also speaking, the youth president of Yenizue-Epie Community, Comrade Samuel Martins, and another youth from the community, Liberia Paul, narrated how the incident occurred and called for more action from government and security agencies to check a reoccurrence of the ugly incident.
Also present at the meeting were the leader of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Monday Bubou, a member representing Yenagoa Constituency 1 and House of Reps member-elect for the Yenagoa/Kolokuma/Opokuma Federal Constituency, Oforji Oboku, Ambassador Boladei Igali, the Obenibe of Epie Kingdom, King Malla Sasime, Dr. Ernest Paul, Alhaji Abba Mustapha, chairman, Arewa Community in Bayelsa State, Alhaji Dahiru Iceti, chairman, Islamic Council Affairs of Bayelsa State, Alhaji Yakubu Otobo, and leader of the Hausa Community in the state, Alhaji Badamasi Salihu among others.
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