Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa
A former member of the House of Representatives and an All Progressive Congress (APC) chieftain, Hon. Isreal Sony-Goli, has urged the Nigeria Police to carry out an unbiased and diligent prosecution of the perpetrators and actors of lingering crisis in Opu-Nembe community in Bayelsa State.
Sonny-Goli, who recently dumped the camp of his principal, Chief Timipre Sylva, said it is imperative that until the root cause of the incessant upheavals in Opu- Nembe is addressed, by ensuring that all the actors behind the crisis are brought to book, peace and order will remain elusive to the people of the community.
Addressing a press conference in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, he said the recent sting operation/invasion conducted by a detachment of Mobile Policemen (PMF) and SWAT operatives from the Force Headquarters, Abuja, has thrown the community into a state of palpable fear, anxiety, and mourning.
“While t is instructive to state that Opu Nembe (Bassambiri) was relatively peaceful, with residents going about their legitimate businesses after the Amanyanabo of Opu-Nembe Kingdom, King Biobelemoye Josiah successfully brokered peace among all the warring factions in the community, until certain individuals on Wednesday, 15th February 2023, decided to unleash mayhem, leaving scores injured and three dead.
“Regrettably, the perpetrators of the 15th February 2023 unprovoked attack on unarmed Opu Nembe citizens have not been brought to justice, thus walking freely. I make bold to say that until justice is done, attaining and achieving long-lasting peace in Opu- Nembe will remain wishful thinking.
“In the light of the above stated, I am calling on the acting Inspector General of Police, to without bias, and for the sake of justice, ensure that all the actors behind the unrest in Opu Nembe (Bassambiri), are arrested and diligently prosecuted in order to serve as a deterrent to others, and restore peace and order to Opu Nembe Kingdom.
May I also call on His Excellency, Sen. Douye Diri, to do all within his powers to ensure the restoration of peace and order to Opu-Nembe kingdom, by prevailing on the authorities of the Nigerian Police Force to withdraw the tactical team sent to Opu Nembe.
In its place, the former house member urged the federal and state government to set up a joint task force with a mandate to ensure the restoration of peace in the community, in order to allow all those who have fled from the community to return, and start living their normal lives.
Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State Government has set a high-powered six-member judicial panel of inquiry over the crisis in Nembe+Basambiri that led to the death of three persons from the area on the 15th of February this year.
The judicial panel is chaired by a former Chief Judge of the state, retired Justice Margaret Akpomiemie, while a representative of the Ministry of Justice, Mr. Diepreye Omubo, is to serve as Secretary.
The panel also has Chief Fedude Zimughan; Dr. (Mrs) Josephine Igodo; Lady Love Amaseimogha, and a representative of the National Human Rights Commission, Bayelsa Office, Mr. Vining Nunman Goselle, as members.
Inaugurating the judicial panel of enquiry in Government House, Yenagoa, on Tuesday, Governor Douye Diri, said their brief was to carefully look into the remote and immediate causes of the disturbances in Nembe-Basambiri that led to the February 15 killing.
Governor Diri, who was represented at the ceremony by his Deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, said the chairman and members of the panel were carefully chosen based on their pedigree and wealth of experience, to deliver on the critical assignment.
He noted that government was confident about the calibre of persons making up the panel, stressing that they have what it takes to diligently carry out the assignment without fear or favour to unravel the cause of the dastardly incident in the area.
Governor Diri added that his administration deemed it expedient to set up the panel as part of efforts towards restoring sustainable peace and security in the community as well as provide justice to all those who have suffered loss.
He said: “His Excellency the Governor of our state, Senator Douye Diri has directed me, by the power vested on him by the Bayelsa State Laws, to set up a judicial panel of inquiry to look into any disturbances in the State.
“As a result he has directed that this judicial panel of inquiry as set up, should look into the killing that took place in Nembe on the 15th of February, 2023. The citizens and families desire, deserve and need to know what was the cause of those deaths.
“We are not going to join issues with anybody, instead we are going to unearth the cause of the death and those responsible for the killings.
“This is necessary because every life is important. And like the Bible says, the loss of any soul is precious to God. As a state and as a responsible government, we cannot allow the killing of 3 of our youths in their prime to be swept under the carpet.”
In her acceptance remarks, the Chairman of the Judicial Panel of Enquiry, Justice Akpomiemie noted that anything involving human life needed to be handled with extreme caution, since it also entails capital punishment.
Justice Akpomiemie, who thanked the Governor for choosing likeminded and competent persons for the assignment, said the panel would depend on verifiable evidence through memoranda from the public to work on, in order to unravel the true cause of the killings.
She, therefore called on members of the Opu -Nembe Community and other interested parties to send in their memoranda and promised that the Panel would carry out its assignment with fairness, diligence and objectivity.
The panel was given three weeks to complete its work including submission of report of its findings to government for appropriate action.
