Nembe-Bassambiri Chiefs, Youth Body Remain Suspended, Diri Insists

*Restates call on IG to recall special forces

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has said the state government’s indefinite suspension of chiefs and the youth body in the Bassambiri community in Nembe Local Government Area of the state was still in force.

Diri also restated his call on the warring factions in the community to toe the path of peace.

He assured the people of the state that his administration would do everything possible to bring lasting peace to the community.

Senator Diri stated this when the judicial panel of inquiry set up to look into the communal crisis presented its report to him in Government House, Yenagoa, on Friday. 

On February 15 last year, a crisis erupted in Nembe-Bassambiri, which claimed three lives.

The panel was instituted on August 15, 2023, to look into the crisis and proffer solutions.

The governor noted that the crisis bedevilling the community was three-pronged but was more political than economic or traditional. 

He stressed that no society can develop in an atmosphere of continuous violence and brigandage.

The governor set up a five-man committee to review the report of the panel within two weeks and to advise him on its implementation.

The review committee is headed by Secretary to the State Government, Alabo Gideon Ekeuwei with the Acting Chief of Staff, Dr Peter Akpe, the Head of Service, Mrs. Biobelemoye Charles-Onyeama and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Legal Matters, Alabo Ozubide as members.

“For anyone life lost, it is important to us as a people. We assure you that we will look at your recommendations and implementation will be done to the letter.

“Let me use this opportunity to call on my brothers in Nembe-Bassambiri that it is time for everybody to toe the path of peace. Peace is priceless. We cannot continuously be in a fratricidal war, fighting among ourselves. 

“You can trust this government. What we want is lasting peace. With the calibre of people appointed into the committee, l am very sure that we will find the solution.”

The governor also called on the Inspector General of Police to redeploy the special forces from the community to restore peace.

“We all must put our hands together so that all parts of our state will be peaceful. Today, we almost have an occupying police force in Nembe-Bassambiri. A special force from the Inspector-General of Police has been there before and after last year’s governorship election. 

“We are told that the force was there to bring peace and normalcy to Nembe. But Nembe was far from war before the special force arrived. I believe that other states in the country need the services of the special force more than Nembe-Bassambiri today. 

“l call on the Inspector-General of Police to reconsider and ensure the posting of those special forces to very troubled states where lives are lost on a daily basis so that rather than being an occupying force in Nembe-Bassambiri, they will be of more help to Nigeria.”

Presenting the report, the panel’s secretary, Diepreye Omubo, explained that the committee was given 21 days to carry out its assignment but had to seek an extension, which the governor granted.

Omubo, who spoke on behalf of the chairman of the panel, Justice Margaret Akpomiemie (rtd), said the assignment was concluded on September 29 last year.

Other members of the panel were Chief Fedude Zimughan, Dr. Josephine Igodo, Lady Love Amaseimogha, and a representative of the National Human Rights Commission, Bayelsa Office, Mr. Vining Goselle.