From Tony John, Port Harcourt
The paramount ruler of Bua Yeghe Community, in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, Mene Barinaadaa Gbarane, has asked for the head of a murdered native, Mr Josiah Piabari, for proper burial.
Piabari, until his untimely death, was the Commander of the Boys Scout in Ogoni. He was gruesomely murdered and beheaded at a disputed farm area, which has been the subject of lingering conflicts between the Yeghe and Boue people in Gokana and Khana local government areas respectively.
Gbarane made the demand during a condolence visit by the lawmaker representing Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Dumnamene Dekor.
The traditional ruler, who pledged that his community would continue to maintain the peace despite provocation, accused the Uegwere community of the killings, saying it was unfortunate that an Ogoni would behead a fellow Ogoni.
“They should stop provoking Yeghe by talking on the radio. If they are not responsible for the killings, why would they rush to the radio and be making provocative statements?,” he expressed.
We demand that the head of the killed graduate should be returned to us for proper burial. We are not going to bury his body without a head.”
Meanwhile, as condemnations continue to greet the recent gruesome murder of two natives of Bua Yeghe community in Gokana Local Government Area, Dekor has described the killings as despicable and wicked.
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Dekor spoke when he visited the paramount ruler of Bua Yeghe Community, Mene Gbarane, to commiserate with him and his subjects over the dastardly act.
He vowed that security agencies would do everything within their powers to hunt down the killers and bring them to justice.
The federal lawmaker, who was accompanied by top party and government officials including the Khana Council Chairman, Thomas Bariere, member representing Gokana Constituency at the State Assembly, Dumle Maol, Special Adviser to the Governor on Projects Evaluation, Austin Sor, as well as the Divisional Police Officers of Bori and Kpor Divisions respectively, particularly decried the beheading of one of the victims, as barbaric and a sacrilege, noting that such act was alien to the Ogoni.
“We are here because we owe you the peace. We will get to the bottom of this. So, let’s allow security agencies to do their work. But, be rest assured that the perpetrators will be brought to book.
Dekor, who is the Chairman of the House Committee on Host Communities, while urging the DPOs present at the event, to launch a full-scale investigation into the killings.
He also requested that those who allegedly went on air to talk about the killings should be invited for questioning.
The lawmaker also charged the leadership of the youths in the area to maintain peace, and avoid reprisal attacks, as security agencies were on top of the situation.