From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Government has vowed to fish out killers of Plateau Rider Manager in Yenagoa, Alhaji Auwalu Aliyu.
Aliyu was murdered a few days ago by suspected armed robbers who killed him after dispossessing him of his money and other valuables.
The Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, who met with the leadership of the Arewa Community assured them of the government’s determination to ensure the arrest and prosecution of the killers of Alhaji Aliyu.
Ewhrudjakpo on behalf of the Bayelsa State Government had also commiserated with the family of the late Alhaji Auwalu Aliyu, the Plateau State Government, and the Arewa Community in the state over the murder of their member during a robbery incident in Yenagoa.
Ewhrudjakpo has therefore urged the Police to do everything possible to effect the arrest of those involved in the dastardly act in no distant time, noting that the state government considers the isolated criminal incident as a challenge.
He charged all security agencies to intensify their efforts at protecting lives and property by nosing around and cracking down on suspected criminal hideouts in the state.
Ewhrudjakpo advised the Arewa community to remain calm and avoid any retaliatory action as the state police command was already on top of the situation to apprehend the culprit.
He pointed out that Bayelsans had been victims of similar ugly situations, stressing the armed robbery attack on Aliyu was not an onslaught against the Arewa Community.
His words “First of all, on behalf of the Government and people of Bayelsa State, I wish to express our deepest condolences to the Arewa Community over the unfortunate incident that caused the death of one of you within the week.
“We feel your pain over the gruesome death that occurred in our midst. One thing you need to know, which I need to stress and stretch, is that for all Bayelsans and the state government, anybody who is doing legitimate business here is a Bayelsan.
“And as we protect the lives of every other Bayelsan, who is born and raised here, that is the way we protect any other person. Nigerian or non-Nigerian who decided to come and reside here and that is the law elsewhere in the world.
“We also need you to talk to your members, not to take the laws into their hands. Already, the police are working hard to fish out anyone involved in the killing of your son and our brother. We have already directed the police to intensify their investigations and get the culprit arrested.
In his remarks, the Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command, Mr. Elonyenu Francis Idu, assured the government that all measures have been put in place to bring the perpetrators to book through the help of technology and human cooperation.
Responding, the Secretary General of the Arewa Community, Bayelsa Chapter, Kadzai Bitrus Dauda, commended the state government for providing a peaceful atmosphere for both indigenes and non-indigenes to live and do business, over the years.