Student Killing: Police in Bayelsa engage community, youth leaders to fight crime

The Police Command in Bayelsa says it has commenced engagements with community and youth leaders as well as vigilance groups to flush out criminals, including cultists from the state.


DSP Asinim Butswat, Spokesman of the command, said this on Sunday while reacting to the killing of a 100 level female students of the Niger Delta University, Miss Seiyefa Fred, by suspected cultists.

Seiyefa was killed by suspected cultists in a robbery mission last week Thursday in Yenagoa, the state capital.

Residents who witnessed the incident said that the deceased had resisted attempts by the gang who tried to disposes her of her mobile phone.

Butswat identified cultism, armed robbery and rape as the most prevalent crimes in the state and assured the people of that the command’s readiness to partner with communities in fighting crimes.

The spokesman said that there were several reported cases of cultism and armed robbery in Yenagoa metropolis with the attendant consequences on public safety.

He said the frequency of the incidents had compelled the Police Commissioner in the state, Mr Joseph Mukan, to embark on community engagement meeting with stakeholders to contain the menace.

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Information, Mr Daniel Iworiso-Markson has said that the government would ensure the prosecution of anyone involved in the killing, describing it as ”shocking, reprehensible and unacceptable.”
Iworiso-Markson gave the assurance that government would do everything to ensure that those who perpetrated the dastardly act were fished out and brought to justice.

The commissioner noted that the government was elected primarily to ensure peace, security development and stability in the state.

“The government òf Bayelsa received with shock the gruesome murder of a 100 level student of the Niger Delta University by people suspected to be cultists on a robbery mission.

“Government condemns with all vehemence this collective assault on our humanity as a people and would do all within its power to address this provocative act.

“Government calls for the cooperation of all our citizens in the days ahead as deliberate efforts would be made to go after those who have declared war on our peace and security.

“Government commiserates with the family of the late Seiyefa and assures that the killers would not go unpunished,” Iworiso-Markson said.