The Bayelsa State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Tuesday urged the Bayelsa Government and Police to check the proliferation of arms and resultant upsurge in crime rate.

Mr John Angese, Chairman of Bayelsa Council of NUJ regretted that the culprits in the murder of a Journalist in April 2017 were yet to be apprehended when another journalist fell victim in another incident.

Bayelsa Council of NUJ made the call in reaction to Saturday’s shooting of Miss Patience Owei, a female journalist with the African Independent Television (AIT), by unknown gunmen.

The incident occured barely less than two weeks after Chairman of the Bayelsa State Branch of the Mayetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Jibril Abdulkarim, was assassinated along with three of his aides on Dec. 2 in Yenagoa.

Gunmen suspected to be armed robbers shot to death the son of Bayelsa Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance party in Yenagoa last week.

Angese however appealed to government and security agencies particularly the Police to mop up proliferation of small arms in the arms of unauthorized persons in the society especially in this Yuletide season.

Mr. Angese noted that cases of robbery at homes and in commercial tricycles were on the rise and calls for concern.

He observed that although efforts are being made to address the security challenge in the state, but he said that more effort is needed to eradicate the menace.

According to the chairman, anti cultism legislations on should be backed by action saying that cultism is connected with robbery and other vices.

He thanked God for saving the life of Owei saying killers of Famous Giobaro, a journalist with the state owned radio are still at large.

The chairman urged journalists and Bayelsa people to be vigilant, watchful and mind their movement especially at odd hours

Angese expressed appreciation to Gov. Seriake Dickson for picking the medical bills of the reporter who sustained gunshot injuries.

Angese made the commendation when he led some EXCO members and other journalists to visit the victim undergoing treatment at the Government House Clinic in Yenagoa.

The NUJ Chairman noted that the governor’s gesture is worthy of commendation as it will go a long way in the recovery process of the victim as the thought of sourcing for funds for surgery under the economic realities would have an additional burden to the family of the reporter.

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