Posted by The Guardian on
THE legislative arm of the Nembe Local Government Council of Bayelsa State has declared an indefinite period of mourning for four of its slain members by gunmen suspected to be members of the dreaded..
YENAGOA - THE legislative arm of the Nembe Local Government Council of Bayelsa State has declared an indefinite period of mourning for four of its slain members by gunmen suspected to be members of the dreaded Teme cult group even as natives of Obioku in the council area yesterday stormed Government House, Yenagoa in protest over alleged plan by members of the cult group to attack their community.
Twelve persons were killed in the gruesome attack allegedly carried out by members of the cult group last Thursday along Akananga Toru, Nembe creek.
Among the twelve persons were four elected councillors of Nembe council legislative arm including the leader of the house, Mr. Inebio Chiefson, representing Mini ward 12, from Agrisaba; the Chief Whip, Iruosounmoye Godwin, representing Okoroma II ward 10; Evans Ekosa, representing Okoroma I Ward 9 and Ingo Tari Sylva, representing Obiku, Nembe ward 7.
Other victims of the attack include a pregnant woman Mrs. Ikaebinyo Eneni; Miss Nyingilayefa Debo; a secondary school teacher at Community Secondary School, Oluasiri, Mr. Lucky Imbe Derri; Mr. Tonworio Godwill Keremah; Mr. Ebimonyu Jeremiah; Mr. Ebi Okuru and the driver of the boat.
The four councillors and others were on an official peace mission to Obioku Community to appeal to the natives to be calm over a land dispute with neighbouring Odioma Community in Brass Local Government Area when they were suddenly attacked by the gunmen on the river on the fateful day.
Lamenting the tragic incident, the deputy leader of Nembe council legislative arm, Miss Caro Owugha who spoke to Vanguard in Yenagoa described the killing of her colleagues as a colossal loss to the people of Nembe Local Government and the entire state.
Miss Owugha therefore, appealed to the Bayelsa State Government to constitute a panel of inquiry into the matter to identify the remote and immediate causes of the dastardly act, which according to her, was capable of putting the state in bad light.
She described the late Leader of the Legislative Arm of the Council as an amiable and intelligent person whose untimely death along with three other colleagues has left a vacuum in the council, which will be difficult to fill.
The Deputy Leader of the House, said after the sitting of the House on Wednesday February 2, 2005 that the thirteen councilors that make up the Legislative Arm agreed to go to Obioku community on a peace mission adding that the trip was official, stressing that the attack on the Councilors and eight others on board the speed boat was unprovoked and therefore came as big surprise to the Councilors and the entire Nembe Local Government Area.
She however, expressed confidence in the ability of the State Governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha in handling the matter to restore peace in the area.