Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, on Friday night, visited the family of a slain Bayelsa youth, Douglas Joseph, to commiserate with them over last Wednesday’s ugly incident that led to his death.
The young Douglas, a native of Epie from Yenizue-Epie community in Yenagoa, the state capital, was reportedly stabbed by a commercial tricycle rider following disagreement over transport fare.
The governor, who led top government functionaries to the deceased’s family residence at the Kpansia area of the state capital, brought some succour to the family as he offered immediate employment in the state civil service to wife of the late Douglas.
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, on Saturday, quoted the governor as also announcing scholarship for the deceased’s three children, saying the state government would take over their education up to university level.
He equally directed the Commissioner for Transport to immediately address the issue of hike in transport fares within Yenagoa and environs and report to him within one week.
The governor commiserated with the immediate family and the entire Epie community, describing the death of the promising young man as sad and unfortunate.
Governor Diri noted that the state was peaceful and the people very hospitable to visitors and investors.
He said the government would therefore not condone the acts of those with evil agenda in the state.
His words: “Following from this sad incident, the Secretary to the State Government is hereby directed to give the wife of late Douglas immediate employment.
“Also the Commissioner for Education should ensure that the education of his three kids from primary school to secondary and even university is taken over by the state government.
“This is to ensure that his children will grow up to represent him and be useful to this community and our state in general.
“Going forward, the Commissioner for Transport is also directed to look into the issue of fares and transport charges within and outside Yenagoa metropolis. I was reliably informed that that was what led to the killing of this young man.
“So the Commissioner should do that and report back to my office in the next one week”.
Diri used the opportunity to commend the people of Yenezue-Epie for keeping the peace as he directed at the meeting he had with them on Thursday, expressing satisfaction that the meeting yielded positive results.
The state’s helmsman, while describing the circumstances that led to the young man’s death as an eye-opener, restated his warning that security agents should arrest and prosecute anyone found with dangerous weapons.
“I still call on you to continue to keep the peace and ensure that Yenezue-Epie is safe for every visitor. Let nobody use this incident to attack anyone in our communities.
“This one is an eye-opener. Like I have directed, anybody found with weapons, whether dagger or machetes in tricycles, should be reported to law enforcement agencies and arrested. We will not continue to have people who come to do business in our state and also resort to violence.”
Earlier, speaking on behalf of the deceased family, Mr. Daniel Oyimini, said although they were in pains, the visit of the governor lightened their burden and described Governor Diri as a true father of the state.
Mr. Oyimini however appealed to the governor to intervene on behalf of the family so the police can release the body of their son for proper burial.