The people of Ogboinbiri Community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have shut down facilities operated by Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) over an alleged unlawful arrest of their chiefs and youth president by the Nigerian Police Force on the orders of forces in the office of the Deputy Governor of the State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.

The protesting elders, youths, and women of the community displaying placards with inscriptions such as “Deputy Governor, Don’t Destroy Ogboinbiri community because of your interest in NAOC barging contract”, “Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, release our Chiefs and Leaders from detention”, “The matter is already in the law court, let the court decide!!!” and “The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State should be held responsible for whatever thing that happens in Ogboinbiri Community”.

According to the protesting indigenes of the crude oil-rich community, it is said that they suspended one Ben Okosughe who was duly elected and was expected to serve a months probation period before his coronation but he was later deposed over charges of misappropriation.

As a result, they further explained that the ousted Okosughe dragged, Mr. Tari Daniel, Community Development Committee (CDC) Chairman of Ogboinbiri Community, Mr. Experience Pere, Youth President of Ogboinbiri Community, Chief Otuku Okorodo, Council of Chief Chairman, Chief Odi Moses, Chief Maclean Ogiori and Mr. Tari Okoso who’s also an indigene of Ogboinbiri Community to court arguing that he was wrongfully deposed.

It was further learned that when the chiefs, the CDC Chairman, and youth president went to court for hearing yesterday, the forces in the deputy governor of the state, allegedly acting on the instruction and connivance of the aggrieved Monarch, stationed policemen outside the courtroom and arrested the chiefs and youth president after the court proceedings over unfounded allegations that are yet-to-be established.

As a result, it was gathered that the community has shut down the facilities which have crippled activities of NAOC in the area, demanding the immediate release of their chiefs, CDC Chairman, and youth president, appealing to the deputy governor not to destroy Ogboinbiri community because of his interest in a NAOC barging contract.

Speaking shortly after the protest, a community member, Owei Jackson said “The state government should go and ask the oil company, they know that we are a peaceful people. Whenever we have disagreement with them, we settle it internally. So, the governor should also know that whatever kingship conflict we have we can settle it internally.

“The matter is already in court, and they should allow the court to take a decision. We are not interested in whatever interest the deputy governor has in the matter but what we are demanding as a community is that our kinsmen that have been arrested should be released or else, whatever happens, the world should take it.”

Also speaking, the woman former leader of community, Mrs. Beauty Okia, said that “the people of Ogboinbiri Community have tradition of living in harmony. We know how to manage ourselves under any circumstance. But today we are told that the deputy governor has Arrested our kinsmen. What did they do that they were locked up, we don’t know.

“I am using this opportunity to appeal to the deputy governor of Bayelsa State to, as matter of urgency, release our king, chiefs and youth president because we don’t want a situation that will push us into fighting each other. We want to continue to live in peace and harmony, just the way we have been living together as a family.”

However, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Bayelsa State Command, ASP Musa Mohammed, confirmed the incident adding that the suspects are undergoing interrogation and that detectives are working assiduously to uncover the links over alleged violence and threats to oil and gas production in Southern Ijaw LGA. (Saturday Tribune)

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