The Nigerian Police have been told to sit back and allow a combined team of men of the Department of State Services and the Bayelsa state government to undertake investigations into the killing of a student of the Federal University, Otuoke.
This is coming even as another tragedy has struck the family of the slain 26-year old student, Daniel Iyama. Daniel’s father died in an accident, after the boy’s death.
Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has assured the family of slain 26-year-old Daniel Ayama that the state government will ensure they get justice.
While the family is accusing the police of killing their son, the police, on the other hand, say their men did not kill him. Rather, they claim that the boy died in the course of cult rivalry.
On Wednesday, while on a condolence visit to the family, the state governor, Senator Douye Diri assured that justice would be served as Daniel’s killers found and adequately punished.
Diri, while commiserating with the family at their residence in Kpansia, Yenagoa, said a thorough investigation would be conducted to unravel the circumstances surrounding his death.
The governor said the state’s special committee on security and human rights violations has commenced investigation into the matter and also directed the state director of the DSS to be involved in the probe.
He said: “For now there are two sides to the report of Daniel Ayama’s murder and government will not take sides. Government is not interested in whether the police was allegedly responsible or it was a case of cult-related shooting.
“I know we have a commissioner of police that is responsible, apolitical, and has been maintaining peace and security in the state. But once you have this kind of report, the police need to step aside.
“This is a case of shooting and we want our law enforcement agencies to be strictly professional. It is sad to hear this type of allegation against a professional body that is expected to ensure peace and security of lives.”
He also said the government had taken over the treatment of three other victims that sustained gunshot injuries during the incident and prayed God to grant the Ayama family the fortitude to bear the loss of their son.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Mr. Smart Ayama expressed gratitude to the governor and his entourage for the visit.
Ayama said there were protests following the incident but that the family decided against further demonstration as it would not bring back their son. He however called for justice to be done on the matter.
