Following the death of Francis Paleowei, a final-year student at the state-owned Niger Delta University, in Amassoma, the Bayelsa State government on Tuesday urged calm.
Paleowei, a 400-level sociology student from the Obrigbene community in the state’s Ekeremor Local Government Area, was killed on Tuesday by a group of people due to a disagreement over the payment of N150 for the right to take a picture at a local sand dump.
In a meeting with the leaders of both communities on Thursday on the murder, the Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, urged everyone in the Obirigbene community, including the family of the dead, to maintain their composure.
According to a statement released on Friday by Doubara Atasi, the Deputy Governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Ewhrudjakpo stated that the state administration was collaborating closely with security services to apprehend the offenders and bring them before a competent court of law.
Ewhrudjakpo called on the Amassoma community to work with security forces to guarantee the murder suspects are arrested and gave assurances to both delegations that all necessary steps would be taken to bring the culprits to face the full repercussions of the act.
The deputy governor further emphasised that since the police had already apprehended the main suspect thanks to the Amassoma community’s efforts, the student body of the university should not take matters into their own hands by seeking revenge for the death of a fellow student.
What they’re saying
He stated, “We extend our sympathies to the bereaved family of the Obirigbene community for the murder of their son in Amassoma. We are begging with the family and Obirigbene community to remain calm, as the government is monitoring the situation through security agencies. The primary suspect has already been arrested and is in police custody.
“We want to once again urge our community leaders to be more aware of their responsibilities in their individual communities in order to prevent harmful activities in our society. “Our message to the student community at the NDU, much like that to the people of Obirigbene, is for them to remain calm and law-abiding, and they should not contemplate revenge.
” Speaking on behalf of the mourning family, Odudu Awipi and Cletus Paleowei asked that the deceased’s killers be brought to justice.
Bottom Line
While the immediate focus is on ensuring justice for Francis Paleowei, the incident underscores the need for broader efforts to address underlying issues such as community tensions, security, and economic disparities that can lead to such tragic events.
The government’s call for community leaders to be more vigilant and responsible is a step in the right direction.
