By Amos Odie, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State Government has commiserated with the family of late Alhaji Auwalu Aliyu, the Plateau State Government and the Arewa Commnity in the state over the murder of their member within the week in a robbery incident in Yenagoa.
A Government House statement says the deputy governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, had already met with the leadership of the Arewa Community and assured them of government’s determination to ensure the arrest and prosecution of the killers of Alhaji Aliyu.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo, who urged the Police to do everything possible to effect the arrest of those involved in the dastardly act in no distant time, noted that the state government considers the isolated criminal incident as a challenge.
He, therefore, charged all security agencies to intensify their efforts at protecting lives and property by nosing around and cracking down on suspected criminal hideouts in the state.
While extending the state government’s condolences to the Arewa Community, he encouraged them to be strong, especially as Muslims who believe in life after death.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo also advised them to remain calm and avoid any retaliatory action as the state police command were already on top of the situation to apprehend the culprit.
He pointed out that Bayelsans had been victims of similar ugly situations, stressing that last Tuesday’s armed robbery attack was not an onslaught against the Arewa Community.
His words “First of all, on behalf of the Government and people of Bayelsa State, I wish to express our deepest condolences to the Arewa Community over the unfortunate incident that caused the death of one of you within the week.
“We really feel your pain over the gruesome death that occurred in our midst. One thing you need to know, which I need to stress and stretch, is that for all Bayelsans and the state government, anybody who is doing legitimate business here, is a Bayelsan.
“And as we protect the lives of every other Bayelsan, who is born and raised here, that is the way we protect any other person. Nigerian or non Nigerian who decided to come and reside here and that is the law elsewhere in the world.
“We also need you to talk to your members, not to take the laws into their hands. Already, the police is working hard to fish out anyone involved in the killing of your son and our brother. We have already directed the police to intensify their investigations and get the culprit arrested.
In his remarks, the Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command, Mr. Elonyenu Francis Idu, assured the government and that all measures have been put in place to bring the perpetrators to book through the help of technology and human cooperation.
Responding, the secretary general of the Arewa Community, Bayelsa Chapter, Kadzai Bitrus Dauda, commended the state government for providing a peaceful atmosphere for both indigenes and non indigenes to live and do business, over the years.
Mr. Dauda, described the unfortunate incident that claimed the life of one of their own as a random attack which could have happened to anyone.
He, however, appealed to the state government to support the deceased family, especially the surviving children in any way possible.
