Tricyclists,’ cultists’ clash claims two lives

There was palpable tension in the Tombia area of Yenagoa metropolis as two persons were feared killed in a bloody clash between some youths believed to be armed cultists and some group of Hausa commercial tricyclists.

It was gathered that the suspected cultists operating as thugs in the popular Tombia Market, had stabbed a commercial driver of a tricyclist, popularly called ‘Keke NAPEP’, to death in their failed attempt to rob him.

According to police authorities, the suspects attempted to rob the victim, who hailed from the north, but killed him for resisting them.

The killing caused tension in the area, forcing traders to close shops and run to different directions for safety as kinsmen of the victim were said to have gone berserk and later stabbed a youth they believed was one of the suspects to death.

While fear of reprisal spread round the metropolis, the Central Zone leadership of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), the Bayelsa Volunteers and security agencies immediately intervened to restore order.

It was learnt that the IYC Chairman, Mr. Tare Porri, immediately led a delegation to meet the kinsmen of the victim and sympathized with them.

Porri asked them to remain calm and resist the temptation of taking laws into their own hands adding that crimes had no colour and tribe.

He, however, complained about the nefarious activities of suspected thugs in the market who were fond of extorting money from Keke operators and other innocent people.

“In this particular case they tried to extort money from the victim. But he told them he had no money because he just came out for business.

“They got angry and stabbed him to death. If not because of our prompt intervention, it would have led to further bloodshed. We appeal to all the people in the state to remain calm and stop taking laws into their hands whenever there is provocation”, he said.

Porri appealed to security agencies especially the police to maintain presence in the market to stop harassment of innocent people by thugs.

The Chairman of the Bayelsa Volunteer Service, Mr. Douye Koroye, condemned the killing of the commercial driver describing it as barbaric.

Koroye, who is also the Special Adviser to the Governor on Youths urged youths to quit crime and take advantage of various opportunities created by the state government to make decent living.

He commiserated with the deceased family and asked security agencies to investigate the incident and bring the suspected cultists to justice.

He said: “We call on the youths to be law-abiding, patriotic and responsible. Our governor has shown capacity to develop the youths.

This is a youth government and we advise the youths to desist from crime and take advantage of the opportunities created for them by the government.

“We warn that persons, who engage in cultism are risking their lives. We have a new law in the state that stipulates stringent punishments for them. Cultists should renounce their membership now and embrace peace”.