The Bayelsa State Government has urged security forces in the state to ensure the prompt arrest and prosecution of the culprits involved in the killing of Francis Paleowei, a 400-level Sociology student at the state-owned Niger Delta University (NDU) in Amassoma.
The state government also appealed to the bereaved Paleowei family and the entire people of Obrigbene community in Ekeremor LGA to remain calm, saying it was working closely with security agencies to get the culprits arrested and prosecuted.
The state’s Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, who presided over an emergency meeting in his office in Government House, Yenagoa, assured the delegation that every necessary step would be taken to bring the perpetrators to face the full consequences of the nefarious act.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Doubra Atasi, also called on Amassoma community to collaborate with the security personnel to ensure the apprehension of the murder suspects.
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Describing the incident as most unfortunate, he urged community leaders in the state to be more alive to their responsibilities to check crimes in their various domains.
He equally insisted that the student community in the Niger Delta University (NDU) must not take the law into their own hands, noting that the prime suspect had already been arrested by the police.
He said: “We express our condolences to the bereaved family of Obrigbene Community over the killing of their son in Amassoma.
“We are pleading with the family and Obrigbene community to remain calm as government was on top of the situation through the security agencies. Already, the prime suspect has been arrested and is already in police custody.
“We want to once again call on our community leaders to be more alive to their responsibilities in their respective communities to nip negative actions in the bud in our society.
“Our message to the student community at the NDU, much like that to the people of Obrigbene, is for them to remain calm and law-abiding, and they should not contemplate revenge. Already the prime suspect has been arrested by the police.
“The Amassoma community should also not spare any effort to ensure the arrest of the other suspects involved in the murder of the student.”
Speaking on behalf of the bereaved Paleowei family of Obrigbene, Mr Daniel Paleowei, Barr. Awipi Odudu, and Elder Cletus Paleowei insisted that the killers of the late Francis Paleowei must be brought to book.
According to the family, the deceased was a very intelligent student with a first class performance in his department, describing his killing as an unwarranted evil.
They, however, thanked the Bayelsa State Government for its timely intervention in the matter and expressed confidence that justice would take its full course.
Also speaking, the Acting Amananaowei of Amassoma, HRH Chief Akedesuo Godwill, and spokesperson of the chiefs council, Chief Wilphant Tounwereyai, commended the Obrigbene community for approaching the matter with a lot of maturity.
They equally appreciated government and security agencies for their swift response to calm the tense situation in Amassoma and pledged to work with the police to ensure the arrest of the fleeing remaining suspects.
Recall that the late Mr. Francis Paleowei, a native of Obrigbene Community and final year student of the Sociology Department was murdered on Tuesday by some hoodlums over a disagreement at a sand dump in the community.
The situation had already created tension in the state with the youths of Ekeremor LGA giving Amassoma community an ultimatum to produce the killers.
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