Bayelsa Police Arrests Community Leaders outside Courtroom, Accused them of violence and threats to oil and gas production

By Passman Akpos

According to the protesting indigenes of the crude oil rich community said that they suspended one Ben Okosughe who was duly elected and was expected to serve six months probation period before his coronation but that the ousted Okosughe dragged, Mr. Tari Daniel, Community Development Chairman (CDC) 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 learnt that when the chiefs, the CD Chairman and youth president went to court for hearing yesterday, 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.

Meanwhile, the Bayelsa state police Command, in a press release today, signed by ASP MUSA MOHAMMED, accused the suspect arrested as disturbing violence and threats to oil and gas production in Southern Ijaw LGA. The Commissioner of Police Bayelsa State Police Command CP, Alonyenu Francis Idu, swiftly deployed police operatives leading to the arrest of six (6) suspects, namely: Mr Tari Daniel ‘m’ , Mr Tari Daniel ‘m’ , ‘Mr’ Experience Pere ‘m’ , Mr Tari Okido Jacob ‘m’ , Chief Augustine Okorodo ‘m’ , Chief Ogiori Maclean ‘m’ and chief Moses Okoriwei ‘m’.

According to the Police, “the suspects are undergoing interrogation and detectives are working assiduously to uncover their links to a terrorist cell formation, threats to oil and gas production in southern Ijaw LGA, promoting native warfare, criminal intimidation, economic sabotage, terrorist financing and conduct likely to cause the breach of the peace in Ogbonbiri community and its environs”

As a result of the unlawful Arrest of the Community Leaders by the Bayelsa state Police Command, Tarakirivoice gathered that, the community in a protest has shutdown the facilities, which have crippled activities of NAOC in the area, demanding for the immediate release of their chiefs, CDC Chairman and youth president, while 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.

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”.

Tarakirivoice had advised the Nigeria police, especially the Bayelsa state command to act with caution, without infringing on the people’s right.

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