It was a day of agony and grief in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Friday as the remains of the Government House Photographer, Reginald Dei, and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Seidougha Taribi, were buried amidst tears. Taribi was also a Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Grassroots Mobilization.

Governor Seriake Dickson, who spoke during the commendation service in honour of the two young men, said they were gruesomely murdered in their own home by yet to be identified soldiers during the last Presidential and National Assembly elections in Oweikoroagha, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

A statement by his Special Adviser on Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, quoted Dickson as having condemned the incessant deployment of state institutions to undermine the peace and stability of Bayelsa since 2015 for political reasons.

The Governor offered automatic employment to the young widows of the deceased and scholarship to the children they left behind.

The grieving Governor said the two corpses were clear evidence of the politically-motivated killings perpetrated by leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state who had the backing on the Federal Government.

He said that it was absurd and indeed reprehensible for criminals to be given security cover in the residence of supposed APC leaders after committing brazen acts of criminality against the state as was the case in the murder of Dei and Seidougha.

According to Governor Dickson, “Security operatives were put at the disposal of APC leaders in the state to intimidate, kill and maim our people’ during the last election.”

The governor described the day of the burial of the Oweikorogha two, as one of the saddest day of his administration as the duo were killed by soldiers who were taken to their residence by some Oweikorogha citizens to murder them.

“Today is a sad day not because of the very young age at which their lives were cut short but because of the way and manner they were murdered in cold blood in Oweikoroagha in their own homes by uniformed men at the command and behest of political operatives,” he said.

He lamented that the main culprits in the dastardly act boasted that he would go to the residence of an APC leader in Abuja to evade arrest by security men as if Abuja had become a sanctuary for killers.

“The killers in Bayelsa that are known are protected by the agencies of the Nigerian state. If anyone ever thought that all I have been saying about killers and their protection was politics here lies the evidence.

“The FG is not interested in the peace security and stability of Bayelsa. They want Bayelsa to be turned into a state of blood like other states.

In Katsina, there were no killings, but here soldiers were deployed for all APC politicians,” Dickson said.

He urged the people of the state to remain calm and vigilant stating that, his administration would embark on what he called the Niger Delta Movement to mobilise people in their various communities on how to defend themselves as the Federal Government has failed in its primary responsibility of protecting lives and properties.

Paying tributes, Governor Dickson described Dei as a very professional, dedicated member of the media team in Government House and Taribi as a decent and honourable young man.

He said that the late photographer drew commendations from even visitors and foreigners to Government House because of his devotion to duty.

Also in his remarks, the State Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (Retd.), expressed shock that soldiers who are funded with tax-payers money could turn their weapons against the people.

He said that the murder of the innocent was unacceptable in any civilised clime, as there are specified rules of engagement for the military whose role in elections are defined.

He said that the military had a responsibility to investigate the killings.

Also, the State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Moses Cleopas, wondered why Bayelsans would kill their brothers over an election contested by two northern brothers whose places did not record such acts.

Others who paid tributes are Senator elect for Bayela Central, Douye Diri, the Speaker of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Chief Kombowei Benson, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Doudei Week, and the member Representing Southern Ijaw 2 Constituency in the House of Assembly, Monday Oboko-Bubou.

•Photo shows Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson (2nd left) his Deputy, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah retd., (left) Peoples Democratic Party Board of Trustee, Chief Remi Kuku (3rd left) and a cross section of family members and sympathisers and Government officials during the funeral service in honour of Reginald Dei (a Government House Photographer) and a PDP ward Chairman of Oweikorogha Commjunity, late. Hon. Sedougha Taribi, both of whom were murdered by gunmen during the last election at the Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall, Government House, Yenagoa.

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