MOSES AKANDA: Bayesa Govt Assures YeneZue-Epie of Justice

…Directs Police To Expedite Investigation

The Bayelsa State Government has assured the people of Yenezue-Epie, particularly the family of slain Mr Moses Akanda, that it would do everything within its powers to ensure that justice was served over the unfortunate incident that led to the death of their son.

The Deputy Governor, Sen. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo gave the assurance on Monday at a meeting with the leadership of Yenezue-Epie, the deceased family, the Commissioner of Police and other stakeholders in Government House, Yenagoa.

In a statement issued by his media aide, Mr Doubara Atasi, on Tuesday, the Deputy Governor urged security agencies to be always thorough and professional in carrying out their duties, stressing that every life including that of a suspect remains sacred untill proven guilty by a competent court of jurisdiction.

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It will be recalled that a young man known as Moses Akanda was killed Wednesday last week at Yenezue-Epie during a raid allegedly carried out by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), which sparked some protests in the area.

Expressing his condolence and that of the state government to the bereaved family, Senator Ewhrudjakpo assured that no stone would be left unturned in unravelling the circumstances that led to the death of Mr Akanda.

Consequently, he directed the Commissioner of Police to ensure that investigations into the incident be concluded within one week timeframe for the matter to be charged to court.

His words: “Government is aware that our son (Moses) was unjustifiably killed. But let us give the police one week to identify the person that shot our son. The law is that, if you are going to arrest a person and the person tries to escape, you shoot below the waist and not above the waist.

“While we are waiting for the law to take its full course, I really want to appeal to all of us, particularly the bereaved family not to do anything that will make us to be unequally yoked like the killers of our son.”

The Deputy Governor promised that government would support in the burial of the deceased as soon as investigations were concluded as well as take care of the immediate family particularly the pregnant wife of the slain Moses Akanda.

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He, however, cautioned youths and people of Epie Kingdom against frequent resort to street protests as a means of expressing their grievances and demands.

According to Senator Ewhrudjakpo, the doors of the Governor Douye Diri-led Administration are open to receive and handle genuine complaints of communities with a view to addressing them to sustain the prrvailing peace in the state.

In her remarks, the Member representing Yenagoa Constituency One in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Ayibanegiyefa Egba, described the incident as sad and provocative, noting that such shooting resulting in fatalities had become one too many in Epie kingdom.

Hon. Egba, however, appealed for calm on the part of the bereaved family and Yenezue-Epie Community, as government was doing everything possible to resolve the matter in the shortest time possible.

In their separate remarks, the Odapiri-Osusu of Epie Kingdom, HRH (Dr.) Ernest Samuel, and the President of the Oguan Youth Council, Mr. Inatimi Timothy said they were quite pleased with the timely and mature manner the state government was handling the matter through the office of the Deputy Governor.

While appealing to government to look into the plight of the aged mother, Madam Darlin Akanda, and the pregnant widow of the deceased, Mrs Favour Akanda, they pressed for speedy investigation, arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the killing of Moses Akanda.

The Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command, Mr Francis Idu, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government, Mr Collins Ifidi, the Paramount Ruler of Yenizue-Epie, His Royal Highness Young Akanda, CDC Chairman, Mr Asuefien Osain, among other stakeholders of the community, attended the meeting.