BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

YENAGOA — THE People of Ayamabele and Kalaba in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, weekend, staged a peaceful protest calling on the police to bring to justice the alleged killers of their son, late Godsgift Atama.

The deceased, an indigene of Ayamabele, was reportedly shot dead on December 7, 2013 while returning from his grandmother’s wake keep at Agbobiri by some persons, allegedly from Akumoni community.

Angered by the alleged inaction on the part of the police to prosecute the alleged perpetrators of the heinous act whom they claimed were initially arrested but later set free, the indigenes of Ayamabele and Kalaba communities, Friday, staged the peaceful protest.

The protest was staged same day the state government was planting “Peace Trees” in Okordia and Biseni clans as hundreds of youths, women and children clad in black clothes, carrying placards and leaves marched on the only major road traversing the six communities of Okordia clan (linking the East/West Road).

The placards carried messages like: “We No Want War, Let Justice Prevail”, “Ayamabele Vs Akumoni No Peace”, “Governor No Peace In Okordia”, “We Have No Confidence In Bayelsa Police,” among others.

The protesters through the Youth President of Kalaba community, Joel Monibo Joel, called on the government to intervene in the matter in the interest of peace.

His words: “We are appealing to the state governor and the Commissioner of Police to step in and take the right action on this matter.”

According to him, “On December 7, 2013, one of our brothers, a youth of Ayamabele community by name Godgift Atama, was returning from his grandmother’s wake keep at Agbobiri and he was stopped by some persons at Akumoni around one of the bumps on the road and they shot him dead.

“Not only that, after killing him, they dragged his corpse to a remote corner of the Akumoni community. We had to invite the special state security outfit, Operation Doo Akpo and they came and searched for the corpse in Akumoni.”

“Some persons were identified as those who murdered our son and were arrested. But, to our greatest surprise the same killers have been released by the police. And, some of the suspects are still bold enough to send us text messages; threatening to deal with us.

“Where is the Nigerian police, where is government? We want justice and, unless this matter is settled in a fair manner; violence may be the next thing in the clan. We want peace and, for that peace; let there be justice….”

Also speaking, an elder of the community,  Lion  Potorpreya, said, “We thought Nigerians were guaranteed freedom of movement in the constitution, but that freedom seems to be lacking here in Okordia clan.

“Otherwise, how should this happen to our son, Godgift Atama? Our son, was returning from his grandmother’s wake keep in the night and unknown to him some persons ambushed him at Akumoni; just the next village. And, just like that they killed him, without any warning. What a tragedy?

“This is the second time this tragedy is being meted out to Ayamabele and Kalaba communities. We are in tears again. But as soon as our anger rose the police and soldiers came here to calm us down, that something positive would be done and we believed them.

“We thought they were telling us the truth. They told us to give them some time. But now we are in tears, that nothing has been done. They arrested some persons from that community and have released them, for no justification. Why is it so? Why is it so, am shouting? We relied on government and the police for justice.

“We want the culprits to be brought to book; to face the music. That is what we want, because there are people well identified with the crime. We need the killers to be brought to book….

But Binabo Atama, mother of the deceased, lacked words to express herself.

In an emotion laden voice, she said, “I can only demand that those who killed my son should be arrested and prosecuted according to the law.

“Let them be brought to book, I demand justice. How can I live and be seeing those who murdered my son from the next village? The government should assist me get justice.”