Eric Olusesan/Port Harcourt
Bayelsa Governor Governor Douye Diri, has ordered restriction of Tricycle (‘Keke’) movement in Yenagoa, environs following the unfortunate deaths arising from Wednesday’s clash between commercial tricycle (keke) riders and youths of Yenizue-Epie community in Yenagoa Local government area between 7pm and 6am.
Trouble started yesterday as Tricycle(Keke) Driver was alleged to have stabbed an Epie boy to death because of his reported refusal to N50.00 (Fifty Naira) fare. This led to spontaneous reaction from some Epie youths, who organized mob attacks on any Keke on sight.
The stabbing to death of an indigene of Yenizue-Epie identified as Edris Douglas by a commercial tricycle operator over a minor disagreement over transport fare of fifty Naira.
The action led to reprisal attacks resulting in the lynching of the Tricycle Driver, burning of commercial tricycles along the Saptex junction, Kpanisa, Okaka and Yenizue-Epie areas of the State capital.
The incident led to protests by youths. The State government has imposed restriction on commercial tricycle operations from 7pm to 6am.
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has imposed an 11-hour restriction on commercial tricycles with the state capital, Yenagoa, and environs.
The directive restricting their movement is between 7pm and 6am daily.
This followed Wednesday’s violent clash between youths of Yenizue-Epie community in Yenagoa and tricycle operators, which resulted in loss of lives.
Governor Diri gave the directive on Thursday during a meeting in Government House, Yenagoa, which had in attendance traditional rulers, leadership of the tricycle operators, representatives of the Arewa community in the state as well as youths of the Yenizue-Epie community and other stakeholders.
The governor said the restriction became necessary in order to calm frayed nerves and to restore peace in the area.
He said the order will last until the situation improved.
His Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah, in a statement, quoted the governor as cautioning against reprisal attack, stressing that government will not fold its arms and watch people take the laws into their hands.
He noted that there was no conflict between Bayelsans and the Arewa community in the state and warned those trying to carry out ethnic profiling to desist.
According to the governor, Bayelsans and other ethnic nationalities have existed harmoniously from the creation of the state and that the peaceful coexistence will be maintained.
The governor reassured non-natives in the state of their safety as they go about their legitimate businesses and called on residents to report any security breach to the security agencies for necessary action.
The state’s helmsman also directed security operatives to arrest anyone found illegally in possession of weapons, stressing that the laws of Nigeria forbade such practices.
He restated that the ban on open grazing of cattle was still in force, warning that those found wanting will be dealt with according to extant laws.
While calling for calm, Diri urged community leaders to advise their subjects, particularly youths, against violating the laws of the state, saying all hands must be on deck to sustain the peace in Bayelsa.
His words: “We must behave as normal human beings. This youthful exuberance of getting angry over every issue must stop. There is no fight between Bayelsans and Hausas from the beginning of the creation of the state till date.
“Community leaders should educate our youths. Nobody will harass anybody in this state. If that happens, report to security agencies. The peace we enjoy here, we must all jealously guard it.
“I did not call this meeting for ethnic profiling. Rather it was meant to calm frayed nerves and to ensure that going forward we all live in peace.
“I hereby impose a restriction on all Keke (commercial tricycle) riders from 7pm to 6am. They are therefore expected to operate only in the day time until the situation improved.
“Government will not accept any lawless behavior from anybody. Our laws have not given anybody the right to carry weapons.
“I thank the security agencies and critical stakeholders that have worked hard with us since yesterday to curtail the situation.”
Also speaking, the youth president of Yenizue-Epie Community, Comrade Samuel Martins, and another youth from the community, Liberia Paul, narrated how the incident occurred and called for more action from government and security agencies to check a reoccurrence of the ugly incident.
Our Correspondent learnt the victim, Douglas who is said an Abuja based, had arrived in the State capital to see his wife who was put to bed recently before he was stabbed to death by the keke rider following an altercation over the transport fare.
Eyewitnesses, Witnesses said the victim, who is in his early thirties boarded the Tricycle from Opolo to Yenizue-Epie Community, which according to him should be one hundred Naira but the Tricycle rider insisted on one hundred and fifty Naira leading to disagreement which resulted in the stabbing of the passenger.
The situation degenerated as natives carried out reprisal attacks resulting in the death of the suspected operator and burning of some commercial tricycles in the area.
Some of the protesting girls said the victim, Douglas, was their benefactor who supported them financially, regretting that his killing was a major blow to the Yenizue-Epie community.
Addressing the protesters, the Lawmaker- elect for the Yenagoa/Kolokuma-Opokuma Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and former Chairman of Yenagoa Local Government Area, Mr. Oboku Oforji who described the incident as unfortunate appealed for calm from residents.
Also present were the Acting Chief of Staff Government House, Dr. Peter Akpe and the Special Adviser on Security to the Governor, Mr. Agberebi Akpoebi and others to address the protesters.
