Bayelsa State government has assured the people of Yenezue-Epie, particularly the family of slain Moses Akanda, in Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state, that it would do everything within its powers to ensure that justice was served over the unfortunate incident that led to the death of their son.
Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, gave the assurance at a meeting with the leadership of Yenezue-Epie, the deceased family, the state Commissioner of Police and other stakeholders in Government House, Yenagoa.
He urged security agencies to be always thorough and professional in carrying out their duties, stressing that every life, including that of a suspect, remains sacred until proven guilty by a competent court of jurisdiction.
Recall that Akanda, a youth, was killed Wednesday last week at Yenezue-Epie, during a raid allegedly carried out by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, which sparked protest in the area.
The deputy governor, in a statement issued by his media aide, Mr Doubara Atasi, expressed his condolences and that of the state government to the bereaved family.
Ewhrudjakpo assured them that no stone would be left unturned in unravelling the circumstances that led to the death of Akanda.
Consequently, he directed the state Commissioner of Police to ensure that investigations into the incident be concluded within one week timeframe for the matter to be charged to court.
He said, “Government is aware that our son was unjustifiably killed. But let us give the police one week to identify the person that shot our son. The law is that, if you are going to arrest a person and the person tries to escape, you shoot below the waist and not above the waist.
“While we are waiting for the law to take its full course, I really want to appeal to all of us, particularly the bereaved family, not to do anything that will make us to be unequally yoked like the killers of our son.”
Ewhrudjakpo promised that government would support in the burial of the deceased as soon as investigations were concluded, as well as take care of the immediate family, particularly the pregnant wife of the slain Moses Akanda.
He, however, cautioned youths and people of Epie kingdom against frequent resort to street protests as a means of expressing their grievances and demands.
In addition, the deputy governor said the doors of the Governor Douye Diri-led administration were open to receive and handle genuine complaints of communities with a view to addressing them to sustain the prevailing peace in the state.
In her remarks, the member representing Yenagoa state constituency 1 in the state House of Assembly, Ayibanegiyefa Egba, described the incident as sad and provocative, noting that such shooting, resulting in fatalities had become one too many in Epie kingdom.
She, however, appealed for calm on the part of the bereaved family and Yenezue-Epie community, as government was doing everything possible to resolve the matter in the shortest time possible.
In their separate remarks, the Odapiri-Osusu of Epie kingdom, Ernest Samuel, and the President of the Oguan Youth Council, Inatimi Timothy, said they were quite pleased with the timely and matured manner the state government was handling the matter through the office of the deputy governor.
Appealing to government to look into the plight of the aged mother of the deceased, Madam Darlin Akanda, and the pregnant widow, Favour Akanda, they pressed for speedy investigation, arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the killing of Akanda.
The Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Francis Idu; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government, Collins Ifidi; the paramount ruler of Yenizue-Epie, Young Akanda; the CDC chairman, Asuefien Osain, among other stakeholders of the community, attended the meeting.
