End SARS: Banks, business outlets, Courts, Police stations others shut down in Bayelsa over fear of hoodlums
Posted 4 years ago
by oluwatosin432
The threats of resumption of the End SARS protest by youths and activists in Bayelsa State in response to the killings at the toll gate in Lekki Area of Lagos State has thrown the Bayelsa State capital into a panic with businesses, Courts and banks temporarily shut down to avoid being targeted for looting and attacks.
DAILY POST gathered that some police Divisional headquarters evacuated arms and ammunitions in its armoury for safekeeping at the State Police headquarters.The End SARS protesters in Yenagoa had on Wednesday night circulated a notice of resumption of protest on Thursday and called on fellow protesters to assemble at the Government House gate by 9am.
The notice read thus “We, therefore, call on Bayelsans to turn out en mass prepared for a PEACEFUL PROTEST as all forms of unruly behaviours that are against the spirit of the #EndSARS Protest shall not be tolerated”.But another public notice was later issued on Thursday morning with the claim that some persons had planned to hijack the protest and unleash mayhem on the state capital.
Meanwhile, amid the threat of resumption in Yenagoa, the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, Wednesday night constituted a judicial panel of inquiry as well as a special security and human rights committee in response to the demands of the protesters in the state.He said”This is to notify the security agents to be on red alert against the hoodlums allegedly being mobilised to cause mayhem in parts of the state capital. Bayelsa State needs peace at this time and not war”
”Those allegedly plotting the mayhem are known enemies of the state and would be held accountable for any breakdown of law and order in the course of the protest. We call on #EndSARS protesters to be vigilante and conduct themselves peacefully as always”.Governor Douye Diri, while constituting the Judicial Panel of Inquiry in a state radio broadcast Wednesday night in Yenagoa, said the panel and security and human rights committees were constituted in response to the yearnings of the youths as articulated in the demands of the End SARS protesters.
His words, “Bayelsa State government has decided to set up a judicial panel of inquiry to investigate police brutality and allegations of human rights abuses and equally set up the special security and human rights committee to supervise and monitor the new tactical unit of the police Strategic Weapons and Tactical (SWAT) squad in the state.
"Accordingly, I hereby announce the following: the setting up and constitution of the judicial panel of inquiry in Bayelsa State under the authority of applicable laws of the state.
“The judicial panel of inquiry which has six months to complete its assignment is headed by Retired Justice Y.B. Ogola with Barr. Alaowei Opokuma as Secretary.
Others are A.T. Ambaowei, Mr Fortune Alfred Godson, Miss Perelade Demanche both representing civil society and Russell Newman representing the National Human Rights Commission.Its terms of reference include “to receive and investigate complaints of police brutality and or related extra-judicial killing in Bayelsa State; evaluate evidence, draw conclusions and make findings on the validity of the complaints; and to recommend compensation and other remedial measures.”