By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Bayelsa Governor Governor Douye Diri, has ordered restriction of movement of tricycle (‘Keke’) in Yenagoa and environs following deadly clash between the operators and youths of Yenizue-Epie community which claimed two lives on Wednesday in the state capital.
An indigene of Yenizue-Epie identified as Edris Douglas was reportedly stabbed to death by a commercial tricycle operator during a minor disagreement over transport fare of N50. 00
The action led to reprisal attacks resulting in the lynching of the tricycle driver and burning of commercial tricycles along the Saptex junction, Kpanisa, Okaka and Yenizue-Epie areas of the State capital.
To curb the clashes, the state government imposed restriction on commercial tricycle operations in the state capital from 7pm to 6am and environs.
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.
His 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.
Our correspondent learnt the victim, Douglas who is said an Abuja based,had arrived in the State capital to see his wife who put to bed recently before he was stabbed to death by the keke rider following an altercation over the transport fare.
The victim, who was reportedly in his early thirties boarded the tricycle from Opolo to Yenizue-Epie Community, a distance, which according to him should not attract fare of more than one hundred naira.
But the tricycle rider had insisted on collecting one hundred and fifty Naira leading to disagreement which resulted in the stabbing of the passenger.
The situation degenerated as natives carried out reprisal attacks resulting in the death of the suspected operator and burning of some commercial tricycles in the area.
Some of the protesters said the victim, Douglas, was their benefactor who supported them financially, regretting that his killing was a major blow to the Yenizue-Epie community.
Addressing the protesters, the lawmaker- elect for the Yenagoa/Kolokuma-Opokuma Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and former Chairman of Yenagoa Local Government Area, Mr. Oboku Oforji described the incident as unfortunate.
He however appealed for calm from residents.
