IYC, INC accuse Bayelsa police of extra-judicial killing, demand prosecution of erring officers

• Police assures proper investigation

The Leadership of the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, and Ijaw National Congress, INC, Central Zone have condemned the alleged police killing of an Epie son, Mr Goodluck Oviekeme in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State on Friday.

This was contained in a joint statement by the Ijaw apex bodies signed by Comrade Gabriel Patterson in Port-harcourt on Thursday.

However, the Commissioner of Police Bayelsa State, CP Echeng E. Echeng has ordered for discreet investigation and autopsy to determine the cause of death of Goodluck Oviekeme ‘m’ 27yrs.

The CP consoled with the family of the deceased and assured the general public that investigation had commenced and the outcome would be made public.

According to the Ijaw groups: “We swing into action in order to bring about justice for the death of an Epie-Ijaw young man that died at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa from extrajudicial gunshot wound and further torture by the Nigerian Police Force, Bayelsa State Command.

“Security Agencies of Nigeria exist and is maintained by taxpayers money as well as proceeds of resources gotten from the resources of the Niger Delta People. Therefore, Ijaw people deserve first class treatment and not the near slavery situation we find ourselves in Nigeria.

“Therefore, Ijaw people must ensure that an independent autopsy must be conducted on the young man murdered via institutional recklessness and extrajudicial insane activities.

“The Nigerian Police as well as all other Security Agencies is supposed to have advanced in their method of service to us taking very strictly all aspects of Human Rights and dignity into consideration during operations.

“Just as no individual or citizen is above the law in a democratic society, so also no institution is above the law not even the President of a democratic country. Hence, those service men responsible for this dastardly and inhuman act tantamount to terrorism must be brought to book through appropriate and justifiable avenues.

“Whoever kills any Ijaw man, whether Government or not, takes a loan repayable in the shortest possible time”, they asserted.