“When Criticism Becomes a Crime: The Peresuodei Case Shakes Bayelsa”

By Paul Ebi

……..“Cyberbullying Claim or Selective Justice? Apostle, Critic Clash Over Dead Youth”

A fresh controversy has erupted over the death of Patrick Peresuodei, a young man from Amassoma, Bayelsa State, following sharply contrasting narratives from Apostle Bodmas Prince Kemepadei and Warri Stephen Bobraebiowei, Ph.D, who has publicly challenged the cleric’s account of events.

In a strongly worded open letter, Bobraebiowei accused Apostle Kemepadei of intolerance, hypocrisy and abuse of influence, alleging that the matter which led to Peresuodei’s arrest amounted to nothing more than a “war of words” on social media. He expressed disappointment that the apostle openly admitted to initiating the arrest, questioning the grounds of cyberbullying and threat to life cited by Kemepadei.

According to Bobraebiowei, the alleged AK-47 threat being relied upon did not constitute a direct threat to life but was part of an online supremacy contest over religious beliefs. He argued that Kemepadei himself had made comments that could be interpreted as more threatening, including remarks about charms not saving the deceased even inside a shrine. Bobraebiowei further accused the cleric of frequently engaging in cyberbullying and issuing threats online, saying it was unfair for him to criminalize conduct he allegedly practices.

He also questioned the narrative that Peresuodei was under the influence of hard drugs, asking why that possibility was not considered as a mitigating factor rather than grounds for detention. “The boy is dead and can no longer speak for himself,” Bobraebiowei wrote, warning that sweeping the matter under the carpet without a transparent investigation would deepen public mistrust.

In response to mounting public pressure and a reported three-day ultimatum by the Amassoma Youth Association, Apostle Bodmas Prince Kemepadei broke his silence with a lengthy statement denying any involvement in the death and rejecting claims that he assaulted the deceased.

Kemepadei described Peresuodei’s death as “tragic and unfortunate,” stressing that he never wished him harm and only sought legal redress. He stated that on December 20, 2025, the deceased allegedly engaged in cyberbullying, criminal defamation and threats to his life, including claims that he would attack him with an AK-47 rifle. He said the situation escalated on January 15, 2026, when a video was released allegedly reiterating threats of physical attack.

The apostle said he reported the matter to the Bayelsa State Police Command, leading to Peresuodei’s arrest in Amassoma. He maintained that after the arrest, he had no further contact with the deceased and that the police later informed him the suspect was exhibiting signs of mental instability due to alleged hard drug use, which predated the arrest.

Kemepadei stated that the police granted Peresuodei bail to his family on January 21, 2026, for medical treatment, and that he was shocked to later learn of his death through social media posts accusing him of abduction and fatal assault. He described those allegations as “false narratives” and named individuals he said propagated unverified claims, adding that his legal team had been instructed to pursue defamation suits.

He further disclosed that while a relative of the deceased later admitted Peresuodei was not assaulted or dumped by him, she still made claims that he visited the police station to assault the deceased — allegations he also denied, insisting they could be verified by police records.

Declaring himself open to investigation and arrest if found guilty, Kemepadei said he had already provided a statement to the police and would continue to cooperate with authorities and traditional institutions. He extended condolences to the bereaved family, the Amassoma community, the Ogboin Kingdom and the wider Ijaw Nation, insisting that “human life is sacred” and that the death should not be unfairly placed on one individual.

As public debate intensifies, youths and community stakeholders are calling for a transparent, independent investigation to establish the facts surrounding Peresuodei’s detention, release and eventual death, amid growing concern over the intersection of social media conflicts, police action and accountability in Bayelsa State.