There was outpouring of anger, in Bayelsa State, yesterday, following the brutal killing of a popular cattle dealer and Chairman of the state chapter, Cattle Breeders Association (CBA), Alhaji Jibril Abdulkarim and three of his aides.
The victims were killed on Saturday afternoon in cold blood along Azikoro Road at Winners u-turn Yenagoa by unidentified gunmen, who stormed their private abattoir in an unmarked vehicle.
The state government and leaders of all the ethnic nationalities in the state condemned the development and called on their members to remain calm and allow security agencies to uncover the motive behind the incident and unmask the perpetrators.
Government officials led by the Chief of Satff, Mr. Talford Ongolo, visited families of the deceased and called on the Police, the Department of State Service (DSS) and other security agencies to apprehend the killers.
Ongolo condemned the dastardly act saying that Abdulkarim was not just a popular cattle dealer but also a member of the State Committee for the Management and Control of Ranches.
Ongolo, who represented Governor Seriake Dickson, assured the families of the determination of the state government to collaborate with the security agencies to ensure that those behind the heinous acts were arrested and brought to justice.
He described Jibril as a peace-loving, law-abiding and easy-going businessman who was a friend to all including the government.
He said: ” I want to on behalf of His Excellency, Governor Seriake Dickson, and the Government of Bayelsa State sympathize with you all over this sudden loss. As a government we condemn it and we shall work closely with the security agencies to apprehend the criminals who committed these unacceptable acts in order to bring them to book.
“Alhaji Jibril was a good man; he was very easy going. He worked closely with our government to promote peace and unity among all. He was never caught violating any law and we are indeed shocked to hear of his gruesome murder alongside some of his boys.”
Ongolo warned that the state government would not tolerate any act of criminality vowing that persons behind the murder would not escape justice.
He urged the security agencies not to relent until the perpetrators behind the killing of the innocent people were apprehended for prosecution.
Youths under the auspices of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, the Ohaneze Youths Council (OYC) and the Bayelsa Youths Organization (BYO) vowed to work with security agencies to fish out the killers.
The Chairman, IYC Central Zone, Mr. Tare Porri, said IYC would not tolerate any unlawful killing in the state describing the incident as unfortunate.
He asked cattle dealers in the state to go about their normal activities and avoid the temptation of taking laws into their own hands.
He said: “We frown at the dastdarly act and we condemn it. We will not tolerate any unlawful killing. These are situations that should not exist in Bayelsa. It is unfortunate that a man who was peacefully doing his business was easily killed.
“Police should step up their investigations and arrest the killers and bring them to justice. We advise cattle dealers in the state to go about doing lawful business and avoid taking the laws into their hands.
“This incident doesn’t have anything to do with hatred for cattle dealers. We sympaghise with them. The IYC would join security agencies to bring the perpetrators to justice”.
Also the President OYC, Bayelsa State, Chief Chinedu Arthur-Ugwa, described the slain Alhaji as a good man saying he never deserved such violent death.
While sympathizing with cattle dealers in the state, he appealed that the incident should not destabilize the peaceful coexistence in the state adding that the governor had taken measures to strengthen security in Bayelsa.
OYC boss called on the police to probe insider connection in the killing describing the death as a big loss to cattle rearers.
The newly-inaugurated President, BYO, Mr. Felix Obele, warned troublemakers to stay away from Bayelsa adding that his members would not allow the destabilization of the state.
” We, the youths of Bayelsa are peace-loving people. We hate violence including killing of any kind. So, we will not allow the act of few unknown persons to destroy the good image of Bayelsa as the safest state in the country.
“We are ready to work with the police because security is everyone’s business. We appeal to residents in Bayelsa to ensure they stay alert and report any suspicious movements and persons to security agencies”.