Bayelsa: Families cries out over traditional ruler’s inhumane treatment, seeks gov’t intervention

By Peregba Jerry

The families, Ekpetun and Feghe has called on the Bayelsa state government and security agencies to intervene in the alleged inhumane treatment of its family members by the current traditional ruler, HRH. Kipasa Emcy and the Community Development Committee, CDC Chairman, Mr. Peaceful Samson of Agbidiama community in Ekeremor LGA of the state.

The families said the call became necessary and urgent due to the violation of their fundamental human rights by the community leadership.

A statement by High Chief Ebiama Napoleon Ofonibeinghen of Tarakiri Kingdom on behalf of Ekpetun, Feghe families and Tonbini-polo compound/quarter in Agbidiama community said the attack on members of the said families is connected to an ongoing Court Process filed against the King Emcy, the CDC Chairman, Samson and others over the wrong replacement of Mrs Blessing Ekpetun as a member, board of trustees for the Tarakiri Host Communities Development Trust.

The statement notes that the matter is already before a competent court of jurisdiction which has ordered parties involved to maintain the status quo but wondered why the Ekpetun/Feghe families are at the receiving end of inhumane and degrading treatments from the leadership of the community.

The statement read in parts, “after a kangaroo meeting of the community leadership decisions were reached not to allow  Tonbini-polo Compound produce the next CDC Chairman which is ordinarily zoned to the compound and that no member of the Ekpetun/Feghe families including women and children should be allowed to step in or out of the community or even  buy or sale anything or do business of any kind with any indigene of the community, saying any person found transacting business of any kind with any member of the Ekpetun/Feghe families will be fined N10,000 (Ten thousand naira).”

According to the statement, “members of the Ekpetun/Feghe family including women and children have also been restricted from talking to any other indigene of the community while the electricity connections in the houses owned and occupied by members of the Ekpetun/Feghe Families have also been disconnected leaving them in total darkness  and all benefits, rights and privileges due them as members of the community will be denied them.”

The statement noted that all sources for survival and livelihood of members of the Ekpetun/Feghe families have been taken away from them due to the ban/sanction, saying, “they are now outcasts in their fathers land. A land that had their father, the late HRH, Chief Johnson Ekpetun as the first ever traditional ruler of the Community.”

The statement called on the Bayelsa State Government and other relevant agencies of government to come to the rescue of Ekpetun and Feghe families and call the leadership of Agbidiama community to order before the situation degenerates into loss of lives and arnachy which may extend to affecting oil production activities of Shell and Nigeria Agip in the area.

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