The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) has condemned the killing of youths in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital over N50 tricycle fare.
The IYC described the incident as “tempting” and “provocative” but called for calm and caution as the relevant authorities and the state Governor, Senator Douye Diri have intervened.
The National Spokesman of the IYC, Comrade Ebilade Ekerefe, while reacting to the deployment of anti-riot squad to restore normalcy at Kpansia and its environs, over the unfortunate murder of a community youth by a tricycle rider and the imposition of curfew, called on the residents to remain calm and youths not to take laws into their hands.
Comr. Ekerefe said that the IYC as a responsible organization will not encourage jungle justice no matter the provocation, but it has come to the point where the people will have no choice than to resort to self-help for their security.
The IYC call on the leadership of the Hausa Community to caution their members and desist from any act that will provoke Ijaw people from seeing them as enemies
Diri imposes restriction on commercial tricycles, urges calm
Meanwhile, Governor Diri has imposed an 11-hour restriction on commercial tricycles in the state capital, Yenagoa, and environs.
The directive restricting their movement is between 7pm and 6am daily.
This followed Wednesday’s violent clash between youths of Yenizue-Epie community in Yenagoa and tricycle operators, which resulted in loss of lives.
Governor Diri gave the directive on Thursday during a meeting in Government House, Yenagoa, which had in attendance traditional rulers, leadership of the tricycle operators, representatives of the Arewa community in the state as well as youths of the Yenizue-Epie community and other stakeholders.
The governor said the restriction became necessary in order to calm frayed nerves and to restore peace in the area.
He said the order will last until the situation improved.
Diri’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah, in a statement, quoted the governor as cautioning against reprisal attack, stressing that government will not fold its arms and watch people take the laws into their hands.
He noted that there was no conflict between Bayelsans and the Arewa community in the state and warned those trying to carry out ethnic profiling to desist.
According to the governor, Bayelsans and other ethnic nationalities have existed harmoniously from the creation of the state and that the peaceful coexistence will be maintained.
The governor reassured non-natives in the state of their safety as they go about their legitimate businesses and called on residents to report any security breach to the security agencies for necessary action.
The state’s helmsman also directed security operatives to arrest anyone found illegally in possession of weapons, stressing that the laws of Nigeria forbade such practices.
He restated that the ban on open grazing of cattle was still in force, warning that those found wanting will be dealt with according to extant laws.
While calling for calm, Diri urged community leaders to advise their subjects, particularly youths, against violating the laws of the state, saying all hands must be on deck to sustain the peace in Bayelsa.
His words: “We must behave as normal human beings. This youthful exuberance of getting angry over every issue must stop. There is no fight between Bayelsans and Hausas from the beginning of the creation of the state till date.
“Community leaders should educate our youths. Nobody will harass anybody in this state. If that happens, report to security agencies. The peace we enjoy here, we must all jealously guard it.
“I did not call this meeting for ethnic profiling. Rather it was meant to calm frayed nerves and to ensure that going forward we all live in peace.
“I hereby impose a restriction on all Keke (commercial tricycle) riders from 7pm to 6am. They are therefore expected to operate only in the day time until the situation improved.
“Government will not accept any lawless behavior from anybody. Our laws have not given anybody the right to carry weapons.
“I thank the security agencies and critical stakeholders that have worked hard with us since yesterday to curtail the situation.”
Also speaking, the youth president of Yenizue-Epie Community, Comrade Samuel Martins, and another youth from the community, Liberia Paul, narrated how the incident occurred and called for more action from government and security agencies to check a reoccurrence of the ugly incident.
