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Tag: Yenagoa

  • Father of four drinks poison, dies in Bayelsa

    A 39-year-old man and father of four has committed suicide by drinking poisonous substance at Edepie, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
    The deceased was identified as Femi Otura, a truck driver, from Kogi State and married to an indigene of Bayelsa State.
    His wife, Mrs. Ovieizibe Femi, who is nursing their fourth child was reportedly away with the other children when her husband took his own life.
    The neighbours said the deceased was always drunk and came back midnight after drinking himself to stupor.
    He was said to have started screaming compelling his neighbours to forcefully open his door only to find his lifeless body with a bottle of poisonous substance beside it.
    The landlord of the apartment Mr. Philips Akpuzere, confirmed the development saying he led other tenants to open the deceased door.

    Read Also: Bayelsa gets new police commissioner

    He said: “The deceased is a truck driver but recently lost his job and on this fateful day, according to the other tenants he looked very unusual and was wearing a moody countenance all day.
    “He came back around 1:am on Tuesday morning and immediately he entered his apartment we started hearing screamings from his apartment. We were suprised because he was the only one at home as his wife who just put to bed had gone to her mother’s place with the other children.
    “When the screamings persisted I raised the alarm and other tenants came out to join me to forcefully open the door to the apartment where we met him already dead.
    “We saw an empty bottle with some liquid besides him. We immediately call a doctor who lives in the neighborhood who came and confirmed him dead. We contacted the police who took the corpse to the morgue.”

  • ‘Nigeria’s security challenges are surmountable’

    The Air Officer Commanding, Mobility Command, Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Air Vice Marshall (AVM) Napoleon Bali, has stated that Nigeria’s security challenges are surmountable.

    He also insisted that a peaceful country is needed, in order to witness progress and development in Nigeria.

    AVM Bali, who was the special guest of honour, stated these at the Naval College, Onne, in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State in the Niger Delta.

    The colourful event was the ceremonial sunset and awards’ night in honour of the passing out 141 cadets of the Direct Short Service Course 25, who will be passing out today (Saturday) and will be commissioned into the service of the Nigerian Navy as Sub-Lieutenants and Lt.-Commanders, including medical consultants.

    The air officer commanding said: “Thank you for giving me the opportunity. Most likely I would have left the air force without knowing that there is something like this (ceremonial sunset). You have given me something in this neat college that I will discuss with my colleagues, both in the air force and in the army. When we did it in the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), maybe because I was a cadet, it was not as interesting as this.

    Read Also: Security award for monarch

    “The Nigerian Navy is very regimental. Keep it up, because that is the only thing that can make us to be very disciplined.

    For the passing out cadets, I implore you, because you know what is happening in the country right now, we have so many security challenges, use this opportunity and the training you are given here to add value to what we, your superiors, have been doing.

    “Do not think you know it all. It is possible that one or two of you may be the ones to bring out the desired strategies. At the end of it all, let us have a peaceful country. So that we can develop our country, where everybody can go about their normal businesses. I implore you all to take it seriously. Maintain the regimentation. The military is a large family, very enjoyable and sociable, but you must always behave yourselves.”

    The Commandant of Naval College, Onne, Commodore Akinga Ayafa, in his welcome address, described the ceremonial sunset as an old-time tradition that is peculiar to navies all over the world.

    Ayafa said: The Naval College, Onne is adding value to the military, especially through intensive training of fresh graduates and others. We are preparing them for the daunting challenges ahead. Nigeria is passing through a lot of security challenges. We look at the contemporary situations and tailor our training towards ensuring that whoever we bring in will help to improve and add value to the system.

    “The training in this college lays a very solid foundation, upon which we expect them to build a solid career in the service of their fatherland, through the Nigerian Navy.

    “The cadets and others being trained in Naval College, Onne are very competent. Service in the Nigerian Navy is full of a wealth of experience. They learn on a daily basis. We have laid a very solid foundation for all of them.”

    The commandant also urged the cadets and others to always be good ambassadors of Naval College, Onne, while assuring that emphasis would always be placed on qualitative training, discipline and hard work.

  • Jonathan, Gana, others pay tributes to Dickson’s mother

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan and a former  Minister of Information, Prof Jerry Gana were among very important personalities, who paid glowing tributes to the late Mrs. Goldcoast Dickson.
    Others were Chairman of the Bayelsa State  Council of Traditional  Rulers, King Alfred Diete Spiff and a  former Minister of Environment, Mrs. Lauretta Mallam,
    Jonathan, Gana, Diete Spiff and others said that the late Governor’s mother left behind a legacy of resilience, contentment, uprightness, humility, hard work and selfless service  to mankind and God.
    They extolled the sterling qualities of Madam Goldcoast Dickson on Thursday night while paying tributes during a service  of songs held in her honour at the  state Ecumenical  Centre,  Igbogene, Yenagoa.
    They said Madam Goldcoast stood for the place of education as a veritable  platform for people to succeed in life.
    Jonathan, who said Mama Gogo, as she was fondly called, was diligent in the service of the Lord, and demonstrated exceptional motherly love as captured in the tribute by her daughter-In-law, Dr. Mrs Rachel Dickson.
    He said that only a God-fearing lover of humanity would give the support Mrs. Goldcoast gave to her daughter in-law as captured in the emotional tribute by the Bayelsa First Lady.
    Mrs. Rachael Dickson gave a detailed account of how Ma GoldCoast Dickson prayed with her, encouraged her for the 15 years that she battled infertility before the coming of the quadruplets.
    Mrs.  Dickson, described Mama Goldcoast  as a jewel of inestimable  value, who did not differentiate between her and her biological daughters.
    In his tribute, Prof. Gana said that Mama Goldcoast lived an exemplary  life, worthy of emulation as demonstrated by the achievements and integrity of the children she raised.

    Read Also: Dickson leads fight against fake drugs in Bayelsa

    He described  her as a woman of integrity  and lover of children who had nurtured her children  and all those who came her way to achieve  successes in life.
    Also King Diete Spiff, one time  Military  Administrator of Bayelsa state, Col. Paul Edor Obi (Retd) and former Minister of State for  Environment, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe described Mama Gogo as a “golden Goldcoast” whose inspiration manifested in Governor Dickson’s approach to governance.
    They said Mama Goldcoast fought a good cause, stresssing that, it is not how long but how well one lived that counts and urged people to emulate her lifesyle by living a worthy  Christian life.
    In a brief exhortation, Bishop God-Do-well Avwomakpa said death is an inevitable end for all mortals adding that it was expedient for people to give their lives to God.
    Responding, Governor  Dickson expressed  gratitude  to Bayelsans, various leaders across the country, friends and other sympathisers who had in one way or the other shown concern and support to him and the Dickson family over the demise of his mother.
    Dickson restated that the remains of his mother would lie-in-state in Toru Orua for a traditional  and Christian all night wake after which she would be interred in her hometown,  Toru-Angiama, Delta State.
    Other family  members who paid tributes include, the grand daughter of Mama Goldcoast,  Miss Peikumo Dickson, son-in-law, Mr. Wisdom Fafi, saying that her legacies would remain indelible.
    Former Deputy  Senate President,  Senator Ibrahim Mantu and former Deputy Governor  of  Sokoto state, Alhaji Mukhtar Shagari also graced the event.

  • Bayelsa warns media against distraction

    The Bayelsa State Government on Saturday warned the social media team of the state’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against issues that could distract them from issue-based campaign ahead of 2019 general elections.

    Issuing the warning when the team visited him in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said focus remained the key to victory in 2019.

    He described social media as the fastest means of disseminating information and the most compelling source of information all over the world.

    He, however, decried some of the negative effects of social media which he noted was due to wrong application and charged the team to be very objective and factual in their work.

    Iworiso-Markson, who lauded the leadership of the party for the appointment said those in the team were carefully selected because of their pedigree, diligence and dexterity in the social media industry. 

    He reminded the PDP Social media team that the coming election would be another litmus test and cautioned them against abusive tendencies.

    He asked them to engage members of the opposition on issues that had to do with the achievements of the restoration government and the party.

    The commissioner said he would be working closely with them to repeat the same feat achieved in the last general and governorship election.

    While congratulating them on their appointment, Iworiso-Markson asked the team to start profiling the candidates of the PDP in the coming elections so that Bayelsans would know their prospective representatives. 

    He stated that those, contesting under the party had a track record of performance and would not fail if given the opportunity to represent the people in the national and state House of Assembly.

    Read Also: Police begin trial of killer cop in Bayelsa

    Iworiso-Markson stressed that what Bayelsa needed were people, who could sustain the legacies of the restoration government of Governor Seriake Dickson.

    He said in seven years, the government made huge success in turning the state from a once rural enclave to a place that is now an investor’s paradise because of the revolution in education, health, infrastructure, security and so on. 

    He said: “Let me thank you for this visit. I was glad when I heard of your appointment and i want to sincerely thank the leadership of the PDP in the State for given all of you this unique opportunity.

    “Clearly your job is cut out. You need to hit the ground running. The social media is like the main thing now. It is fast gaining more popularity and acceptability than the traditional media because of the speed at which information through it goes viral to  reach billions of people across the globe. 

    “We are now in an election season and a lot of things are required of you. You need to use your position to advance the course of the restoration government. What you should be doing is to engage the opposition on issues like performance. They cannot performance our performance, not in a million years. So put out the truth, the facts about our performance so that the world can see. 

    “You don’t need to abuse anybody. Our achievements should speak for us. We did this in 2015 and we will replicate it in 2019. We have said this election will be a referendum on the performance of the Restoration Government especially for all our candidates running on the ticket of the PDP-led government in the State. 

    “I will be working closely with you to ensure that together we move in the same direction. So very soon, I will organize a situation room right here in my office. I will also invite social media experts to meet with you to talk to us on social media trends that will help to further guide you”.

    Earlier, Director of the PDP Social media team, Mr. Perekebena Okoyen said the visit was to enable them familiarize with the Commissioner as the Head of the state media team and official spokesman of the government. 

    Okoyen, who praised the commissioner for his high level of professionalism and uncommon approach to issues said they would be pleased to be under his counselling throughout the period leading to the main election. 

    He described the Bayelsa PDP Social Media team as a grassroot movement targeted to work with all youth groups, organizations and volunteers in the eight Local Government Area in order to mobilize massive support for the party and her candidates. 

    Okoyen maintained that the team will as part of its campaign show the incontestable achievements of the restoration government in all the sectors which has made Bayelsa a leading state.

    He appealed for support and encouragement from critical stakeholders in the state for effective delivery of their mandate.

  • ‘Security worsening in Bayelsa’

    The Bayelsa State Executive Council at the weekend condemned in strong terms the worsening security situation in the state following frequent change of police commissioners.

    The council accused opposition leaders in the state of controlling security agencies to undermine the authority of the authority of the state government.

    Rising from its 99th meeting at Government House, Yenagoa, where it deliberated on rising cases of insecurity, the council said opposition leaders were determined to destabilize the state ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    The council in the meeting chaired by the state Governor, Seriake Dickson, said it was an act of subversion bordering on treason to politicize security in such a manner ahead of the elections.

    Briefing journalists after the council’s meeting, the Commissioner of Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said the executive council blamed the worsening security situation on frequent change of police commissioners for political reasons.

    He said the council considered deployment of eight police commissioners in Bayelsa within three months as highly subversive and capable of threatening the existing peaceful, harmonious and conducive environment the government worked very hard to put in place.

    Iworiso-Markson said: “Indeed, it is an act of subversion bordering on treason for security heads to give control of security agencies to former Governor Timipre Sylva, the junior Minister of Agriculture, Heineken Lokpobiri and their cohorts, who are using the ruling party at the center to undermine the security of the state”.

    Read Also: We will restore peace in Brass, says Bayelsa CP

    He said the council resolved that the stage government would not allow anybody no matter how highly placed to get away with acts of subversion.

    He said: “We, therefore, call on citizens of our state to be wary of the subversive tendencies of some persons, who have all in the name of politics, set out to create and carry actions that are intended to undermine the security and stability of our state.

    “All Bayelsans must be at alert and be ready to reject the return of the deadly, Operation Famou-Tangbe in whatever guise, shape or form.

    “We will also not allow Operation Doo-Akpo, which was created by the Restoration Government and which has in the last seven years earned the respect, trust and confidence of our people as a reliable, professional quick response and credible crime-fighting outfit devoid of politics to be rubbished by anyone.

    “We wish to sound a clear note of warning to all that in the interest of peace, even as the elections draw near, that this state is bigger than everyone of us and nobody, no matter how highly placed, will be spared from facing the wrath of the law if found wanting.

    “Those who are interested in controlling the state by seeking to undermine the security should be ready to face the consequence of their actions should there be any breakdown of law and order”.

    Iworiso-Markson further said the council considered the exploitation of security apparatus to harass and intimidate perceived political opponents as unhealthy as it portrayed display of excessive use of political power.

    He added: “We, hereby, call on the Federal Government and the heads of all security agencies in the country to respect the authority of the state government and refrain from doing anything that will jeopardize the peace, order and stability of the state.

    “We also call on Bayelsans to be law abiding and peaceful even in the face of provocative actions by those said to be enemies of peace and stability of the state.

    “The governor will formally convey the position of the government for the umpteenth time to the President for appropriate action. We would also commence appropriate legal actions to defend the authority of the government of the state”.

  • ‘1602 people died in ember month accidents in 2017’

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Friday said 1,602 people perished in road accidents that occurred in September, October, November and December 2017.

    Speaking at the inauguration of the corps’ 2018 ember month campaign tagged, Safe Driving Saves Lives, the Corps Marshal, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, said 2,805 crashes wee recorded in last year’s ember months.

    The campaign, which was inaugurated at the Igbogene axis of the East-West Road, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, was attended by Governor Seriake Dickson and all security commanders in the state.

    While Dickson was represented by his Special Adviser on Transport, Ebiwari Wariowei, others at the flag off were Commander 16th Brigade, Brig-.Gen. Kelvin Aligbe; state Commander, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and heads of immigration Department of State Security (DSS).

    Others were the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and commercial tricycle union among others.

    Oyeyemi, who was represented by the Zonal Commanding Officer, Kingsley Agomoh, said a total of 20,196 people and 4,503 vehicles were involved in the 2017 ember month accidents.

    Read Also: Two die in Ogun accidents

    He said the corps had resolved to bring down last year’s casualty figures by a huge margin through the 2018 campaign and the cooperation of all the road users.

    He said: “The ember months is a period of festivities and many people erroneously believe that evil forces on the roads are responsible for road crashes and fatalities. 

    “But the struggle on the part of most people to travel to meet their loved ones that causes it and more trips on the part of commercial drivers to make more profit in preparation for the Yuletide without adequate rest are mainly responsible for the road mishap”.

    Oyeyemi said the corps had resolved to use the media and all public enlightenment platforms to dispel the erroneous belief and prefer a way forward for reduction and possible elimination of road traffic crashes.

    Insisting that the corps in its campaign would force safe driving to save life, the FRSC boss said corps officials would be strict in their conduct of vision acuity tests to check defective eyesight of drivers on the road.

    “There is a need for drivers to have their drivers’ license, highway codes, change from old plate numbers to new ones to ensure uniformity in the corps’ licensing scheme, which will be captured in the central database of the corps”, he said.

    In his remarks, the Bayelsa Sector Commander, Ikechukwu Igwe, said the campaign had taken a different dimension from a day’s activities to a three-day programme.

    He sand children were also integrated into the programme to carry the message of safety to the adults adding that the children would be involved in distribution of fliers to road users.

    He added that the children, numbering 150, would also visit the mosques, markets, motor parks and churches to sensitise road users on the need to be careful this period.

    Also speaking, Dickson said the road safety had done very well in the reduction of road accidents but noted that with the campaign, the corps would double its efforts in discharging their roles in the ember months.

    He also appealed to the corps to collaborate with other security agencies especially the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agencies (NDLEA) to check intake of illicit drugs by road users.

    “These are the periods they carry these drugs and other arms and ammunition about. They pass through the roads and road safety should collaborate with other security agencies to tackle crimes and drug abuse”, he said.

  • Bayelsa security outfit withdrawn without my knowledge – CP

    The frosty relationship between the Bayelsa State Government and the police deepened on Tuesday following the withdrawal of the state security outfit, Operation Doo-Akpor by the government.

    The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mukan, while parading over 20 cultists in Yenagoa, said he was not consulted before the withdrawal.

    Mukan said he was not briefed on the suspension of Doo-Akpor’s operations despite making inquiries from responsible government officials.

    He said the Special Adviser on Security, Boma Sparo-Jack and the Chief of Staff, Government House, Talford Ongolo, said they were not aware about the reason for suspending the outfit’s operations.

    Describing the withdrawal as unfortunate, he said the situation he met on ground on his resumption as the police chief in the state was that Doo-Akpor was not controlled by the police command.

    He, however, said despite reporting directly to the governor, the government would have informed the police before suspending its operations especially amidst complaints of rising crimes in the state.

    He said: “We are surprised the way you are. Let me inform you that Doo-Akpor is not operating under the state command. They are independent and they report directly to the governor.

    “Though it is commanded by a senior police officer, they don’t take the command into considerations in their activities. So, when we notice the withdrawal we tried to ask questions. But nobody is coming up with any clear reason for withdrawing the vehicles.

    “But it is unfortunate. If we are shouting that crime has increased in Bayelsa and action like that is to be taken at least we collaborators in fighting crimes in Bayelsa should be informed. But nobody informed us.

    “I tried to get across to the special adviser on security, he said he was not aware. I got across to the chief of staff, he said he was not aware. So, l believe that the commander is in a better position to tell us why it was withdrawn”.

    Read Also: ‘We won’t surrender Bayelsa to failed politicians’

    Mukan said he would not recommend the suspension of Doo-Akpor’s services since it was established to assist the police in fighting crime.

    He, however, said the police were fully ready to guarantee security of lives and properties despite the suspension of Doo-Akpor.

    He said: “Doo-Akpor should not be removed now. They are assisting in fighting crime in Yenagoa and I don’t see any reason in withdrawing it. The same people complaining of high wave of crime are the same people compounding it.

    “But we are up to the task. We are moving and doing our own bit. The security situation has not changed because of the withdrawal of Doo-Akpor”,

    Residents in Yenagoa expressed fears following sudden disappearance of patrol vans belonging to the state security outfit from the streets.

    Investigations revealed that the services rendered by the security outfit were no longer available to members of the public.

    The outfit’s patrol vans were no longer located at strategic places they were usually stationed for quick response to criminal activities.

    It was also observed that the stop and search operations, which the security outfit recently commenced in Yenagoa the state capital, had been suspended.

    There has been tension in the state following the alarm raised by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other government stakeholders on a plot by the Inspector-General of police to disband the security outfit.

    Doo-Akpor, whose operatives comprised the police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), was established and funded by the Governor Seriake Dickson’s administration to maintain the peace in the state.

    The House of Assembly and elders from the state recently warned against the plot saying it would heighten insecurity in the state.

    A top officer of the outfit, who spoke in confidence, confirmed that the security outfit was temporarily suspended.

    But he said the withdrawal was not in connection with the alleged move to disband the outfit adding that the action was taken to rebrand the outfit and repair its vehicles for optimum service delivery.

  • Bayelsa solicits public support for war against cultism

    The Bayelsa Government on Friday solicited the support of the citizens for the current efforts to curb the rising menace of cultism in the state.

    Dr Boma-Spero Jack, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, made the call via a statement in Yenagoa.

    Jack expressed concern about the increasing cases of cultism, armed robbery and other related crimes, particularly in Yenagoa and its environs.

    He condemned the recent killing of Miss Seiyefa Fred, a 16-year-old 100 level student of Niger Delta University, by suspected cultists in the Amarata neighbourhood of Yenagoa.

    Sympathising with the families of the deceased, the security adviser expressed the government’s commitment to putting in place adequate security measures to safeguard the people’s lives and property.

    He urged the members of the public to see security as a communal activity which involved the input of all the citizens, the police and other security operatives.

    He added that the citizens should always provide useful information that would facilitate efforts to safeguard the society.

    Jack, who attributed the current wave of crime in the state to cultism and use of hard drugs by youths, assured the citizens of the government’s plans to improve the security architecture of the state.

    According to him, the government is particularly collaborating with the state special security outfit, tagged “Operation Doo-Akpo’’, to effectively combat crime and criminality in the state.

    He said that the government was committed to putting in place more crime-prevention machinery, in partnership with the police and other security agencies.

    Jack, however, called on law enforcement agencies and the judiciary to take advantage of the state’s anti-cultism laws, which gave them the right to detain suspects for up to 60 days during investigations.

    “In an effort to eradicate cultism and other related vices, the judiciary and prosecuting agencies must work hand-in-hand to assist government through speedy dispensation of justice,’’ he said.

    He urged members of the public to always call 07006464644 — the special dedicated phone line of “Operation Doo-Akpo’’ — whenever they were in distress so as to provoke quick response.

    Jack criticized community leaders and other personalities who were fond of defending and pleading for apprehended criminal suspects, adding that they should desist from such acts and allow the law to run its course.

    He bemoaned the frequent redeployment of police commissioners to the state, saying that it was one of the causal factors behind the current security situation in the state.

    NAN

  • Cultism: Bayelsa CP engages vigilant groups, leaders

    The newly deployed Commissioner of Police in Bayelsa State, Joseph Mukan, at the weekend held crucial meetings with vigilant groups and community leaders following increase in violent activities of secret cult groups in the state.

    It was gathered than Mukan, who is barely a week in the state, was jolted by widespread killings and maiming of innocent indigenes by gun-wielding cultists operating especially in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    It was further learnt that the police chief was shocked by the gruesome murder of a 17-year-old 100-level student of the state-owned Niger Delta University (NDU), Miss Seifa Fred by armed cultists in Amarata area of Yenagoa.

    He was said to have viewed the development as a community problem, which required involvements of youth presidents, vigilant groups and community development chairmen to tackle.

    A statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Butswat Asinim, said Mukan engaged the stakeholders within Yenagoa Metropolis in the first phase of the meeting.

    Read Also: Outrage as cultists kill 16-yr old girl in Bayelsa

    Butswat said at the meeting, the stakeholders reiterated that armed robbery, cultism and rape were major crimes affecting their communities.

    He further said with the help of the youths, the police chief identified the flash points and promised to treat information received from communities with utmost confidentiality.

    The statement said: “The youths identified cultism armed robbery and rape as the serious crimes affecting their communities and assured the Police of their readiness to partner and assist the command in fighting crime.

    “The commissioner of Police assured the youths that information shared with the police will be treated with utmost confidentiality. Flash points, illicit drugs joints and other criminal hideouts were identified and will be raided accordingly.

    “The command commends all security stakeholders for their resilience and commitment to fighting crime, as the police are poised to ensure the safety of lives and property in Bayelsa State”.

  • Outrage as cultists kill 17-yr old girl in Bayelsa

    Outrage and lamentations poured on Friday in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, following the gruesome murder of a 17-year-old girl by suspected cultists, whose motive was to snatch her smart phone.

    Seifa Fred, a 100-level student of the state-owned Niger Delta University (NDU) was gunned down at close range while running an errand for her mother in the state capital.

    Fred, who was at home following the strike declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), was said to have gone out at about 8pm to buy roasted meat popularly known as suya for her mother.

    On her way back, cultists who have made life in Yenagoa a living hell, were said to have attacked her close to her house and shot her in a bid to snatch her phone.

    Her mother was said to have rushed to the scene following the gunshot only to behold her beautiful fair in complexion daughter in the pool of her blood.

    The helpless mother raised the alarm to attract sympathizers, who rushed the girl to the hospital, but the young Fred was declared dead on arrival.

    Investigations showed that the incident was one too many as innocent residents in Yenagoa are constantly attacked and killed by cultists, who invade the streets to snatch smart phones.

    In the case of Fred’ an eyewitness, who spoke in confidence said the hoodlums waylaid and wasted no time to snuff life out of her.

    He said: “The incident happened at about 8pm beside Zenith Bank in Amarata area. The suspected street cultists, who were on the prowl, shot her and ran away with her phone leaving her dead on the ground.

    “Resident of the area came out and rushed her to the hospital, but she later passed out. She is currently at the mortuary”.

    Residents lampooned security agencies especially the police for failing to tame cultists and their violent behaviour in the state.

    One of the resident identified as Moses observed that armed cultists were roaming the streets and unleashing violence on victims without any hindrance.

    “It is as if Bayelsa is a lawless state. These boys are everywhere with arms killing and maiming people just to snatch their valuables especially phones. They operate at night and in daytime with hindrances. We are not safe. Imagine the cruel way the life of young and vibrant Seifa Fred was taken by them.

    “The government must rise to the occasion. They should partner with security agencies to stop this killing. The government should not allow cultists to form their own system of government”, he said.

    Further investigations showed that killings by cultists were daily happenings at Obele, Abor Road, Saint Peters area, Amarata, Kpansia, Opolo and Tombia area, described as red spots in Yenagoa.

    Some angry residents claimed that cult-related violence was on the increase because cultists arrested by the police escape justice after paying huge amount of money to void their prosecution. The claim, however, could not be verified.

    Read Also: Bayelsa receives N24.1bn Paris Club refund

    Some friends of Seifa Fred said she was chatting with them on some of her social media platforms a few minutes before her death.

    One of her friends, Gideon Owili said: “Bayelsa state is really insecure. Seifa Fred was online a few minutes ago. She had just be shot dead because a smart phone. She gave them the phone, but they still shot her. I am in tears and deep sorrow.

    The leader of the Egbesu Brotherhood, Apostle Bodmas Kemepadei, described the killing as unfortunate and called on the youths to stop the violence.

    “Cultism and abuse of drugs is on the increase, there is no day that passes in Yenagoa, that gunshots are not heard. People are being killed like chickens, yet no reports of arrests made.

    “We should join hands together to restore peace in our state, cultism affects us all, if you are not a cultist then you are a victim, don’t wait for this government, security is all of us business”.

    But the state government condemned the killing of Seifa Fred and called for collective efforts to stop agents of death.

    The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson appealed to the security agencies to be alive to their duties.

    He said: “We need to get the security agencies to be alive to their responsibilities. This is no time to apportion blames. We all need to take responsibility for our collective security.

    “We must all collectively condemn this and rise up to confront these criminal gangs terrorizing our neighborhoods. The perpetrators are not spirit. They live among us. Let us not be silent. Let’s not be afraid or shy away from reporting them because it could be anybody next”.

    The police in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Asinim Butswat, confirmed the killing and promised to arrest the suspects.

    He said: “On 8 November, 2018, at about 2030hours, unknown suspected cultists at Amarata, Yenagoa, shot one Seiyefa Fred ‘f’ 16years, while trying to dispossess her of her mobile phone. The victim was immediately rushed to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead.

    “The Police have swung into action and are working on a promising lead on the identity of the suspects and efforts have been intensified to arrest them.

    “The command has embarked on community engagement meetings with relevant youth bodies in a bid to stem the tide of cult related activities. Members of the public should continue to assist the Police with useful information to combat crime in Bayelsa State”.