Shops owned by Igbo traders at Biogbolo, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, have been shut down following attacks on traders by aggrieved youths from the area.
Recall that an 18-year-old lady identified as Faith Pius died from wounds sustained after she was stabbed by her 26-year-old lover in a hotel in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State capital.
The deceased, who was stabbed on Friday night at the hotel located in Biogbolo area of the state capital, was rushed to a hospital but died from complications two days later.
According to the Nation, the aggrieved youths have been protesting the alleged ritual killing of the lady by a non-indigene identified as Tochukwu.
As a result of the protest, many traders have fallen victims of the attacks with their shops and business premises shattered and burnt by the youths.
All the shops at Customs Road and Green Villa extending to the Yenagoa-Mbiama Road could not do business out of fears that the youths were planning to attack non-indigenes.
However, the police and the army have been patrolling the affected areas to stop further damage and restore the peace in the area.
The Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Worldwide, while condemning the killing, appealed to the indigenes to stop attacking innocent people.
The Acting Chairman, IYC Central Zone, Mr. Amiebi Turner, said instead of assaulting innocent non-indigenes, the aggrieved persons should channel their energy towards finding and bringing the culprit to book.
Turner said, “The IYC central zone wishes to condemn in totality the murder of a promising Ijaw daughter, while we also advise our youths to remain calm, peaceful and avoid acts that may disrupt the existing peace in the state.
“We understand the pains, we feel the rage, but we advise against taking laws into your hands. As we push for moves aimed at apprehending the culprit and to restore order.
“Since the incident, we have engaged security agencies to intensify hunt of the suspected murderer of our beloveth daughter, which they have promised to do, on our path, we owe the duty to provide useful informations.
“The entire Ijaw youths in Central zone wishes to commiserate with the bereaved family and the entire Biogbolo – Epie community in the state capital, on this sad and painful loss, we pray God to give you all the fortitude to bear this great loss.
“We also use this opportunity to advise security agencies to stop the chase and assault on youths of Biogbolo community, so as not to aggravate the situation but to rather employ diplomatic measures that will be void of martial law.
“We condemn this dastardly and criminal act in very strong terms, but we must allow security agencies do their work to unravel the mystery behind this unjust killing. We also advise residents in the area to remain peace abiding and not see it as an ethnic or tribal issue, for crime is crime.”
Comments