…We Won’t Bury Our Dead Headless – Bua Yeghe Monarch
As condemnations continue to greet the gruesome murder of two natives of Bua Yeghe Community in Khana Local Government Area last Monday, the lawmaker representing Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Dumnamene Robinson Dekor has described the killings as despicable and wicked.
Dekor who was speaking when he paid a condolence visit to the paramount ruler of Bua Yeghe Community, Mene Barinaadaa Gbarane at the Bua Yeghe Community Hall on Saturday, vowed that security agencies would do everything within their powers to hunt down the killers and bring them to justice.
The federal lawmaker, who was accompanied by top party and government officials including the Khana Council Chairman, Dr. Thomas Bariere, member representing Gokana Constituency at the State Assembly, Hon. Dumle Maol, Special Adviser to the Governor on Projects Evaluation, Hon. Austin Sor, as well as the Divisional Police Officers of Bori and Kpor Divisions respectively, particularly decried the beheading of one of the victims, an act he described as barbaric and a sacrilege, noting that such act is alien to the Ogoni.
Rt. Hon. Dekor and his team went on to observe a minute silence for the two victims identified as Josiah Burabe Piabari, head of Boys Brigade in Bua Yeghe, and Leiga Gbarawi.
“We are here because we owe you the peace. We will get to the bottom of this, so let’s allow security agencies do their work. But be rest assured that the perpetrators will be brought to book”, he said.
While urging the DPOs present at the event to launch full scale investigation into the killings, Dekor who is the Chairman of the House Committee on Host Communities, also requested that those who allegedly went on air to talk about the killings should be invited for questioning.
He also charged the leadership of the youths in the area to maintain the peace, and avoid reprisal attacks, as security agencies are on top of the situation.
The team later visited the homes of the victims where Rt. Hon. Dum Dekor commiserated with the wives and children left behind.
It was emotion laden at the home of the late Josiah Piagbari as his widow, Barisua and her five kids cried uncontrollably, narrating to Dekor in Ogoni language, how her husband was killed and beheaded by people suspected to come from neighbouring Ue-Gwere Community.
Consoling the distraught woman, the lawmaker donated an undisclosed sum of money, but announced a monthly allowance of N100,000 for the upkeep of her children which will take effect from the end of August, 2022.
The team also visited the home of late second victim, Leiga Gbarawi where Rt. Hon. Dekor repeated the gesture.
Also speaking, the Executive Chairman of Khana Local Government Council, Dr. Thomas Bariere said the Council was deeply saddened by the killings and also vowed not to rest until the perpetrators were apprehended.
He said the Council would not be deterred by the act which he said was the handiwork of the enemies of the people, stressing that peace has come to stay in Khana LGA.
“Let me start by saying that I join voice with the Rt. Hon. Dum Dekor, people of Bua Yeghe Community and entire Ogoni to condole with the family that just lost two very important personalities.
“The murder is needless, senseless, and we condemn it completely. As a government, we have been doing everything within our powers to ensure we bring peace.
“But as you can see, no matter how hard you try, there are just some persons that just would not give peace a chance. And so, I stand here today, to assure the people of Bua Yeghe Community and the entire Ogoni that I will continue to work with my colleague, the Chairman of Gokana Local Government Area, to ensure that those responsible for this gruesome murder are brought to book.
“That is the only way we can give assurance to the people that we are concerned about their safety and security. And that’s what we shall continue to do”, he said.
Earlier in his address of welcome, the Paramount Ruler of Bua Yeghe Community, Mene Barinaadaa Gbarane pledged that his community would continue to maintain the peace despite provocation.
A visibly angry Gbarane who also pointed accusing fingers at Uegwere Community for the killings, said it is unfortunate that an Ogoni would behead a fellow Ogoni.
“They should stop provoking Yeghe by talking on the radio. If they are not responsible for the killings, why would they rush to the radio and making provocative statements”, he queried.
“We demand that the head of the killed graduate should be returned to us for proper burial. We are not going to bury his body without head”, he declared.
