The Bayelsa State Government has strongly condemned the brutal killing of Mr. Collins Kuromie-Ayebaye, popularly known as “Laku,” an indigene of Egweama community, who was murdered in Beletiama, Brass Local Government Area.
Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, expressed the government’s outrage during an emergency meeting at Government House, Yenagoa, with community leaders from Egweama and Beletiama, security chiefs, and senior state officials. He described the incident as barbaric and provocative, stressing that such acts threatened the peace of coastal communities.
Ewhrudjakpo commiserated with the bereaved family and assured them that government and security agencies were working to ensure justice. He revealed that the suspected killer, Mr. Kina John, had already been apprehended by the Nigerian Navy and would soon be handed over to the Police for further investigation.
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The Deputy Governor urged the Police to conduct a thorough probe, linking the latest killing with the earlier murder of Madam Amazige Ayebaesin, another Egweama native, suspected to have ritual undertones. He directed the Police, Army, and Navy to maintain heavy presence in both communities to prevent reprisal attacks.
To further calm tensions, the state government constituted a high-powered delegation, led by Dr. Charles Daniel of the Bayelsa House of Assembly, to visit Egweama, Beletiama, and Okpoma to convey condolences and engage stakeholders.
At the meeting, community leaders, including Chiefs Stephen Igere and Iwokura Temple, joined others in condemning the crime and demanded swift justice to restore confidence and peace in the area.
