From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
A former Bayelsa State Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in the 2023 elections, Engr Udengs Eradiri has condemned the resurgence in cult-related killings in the state, describing the development as unacceptable.
Yenagoa, Bayelsa state capital, had been under siege by cultists engaging in a battle of supremacy.
Eradiriin a statement noted that cultists were hacking down promising youths and leaders in the state with impunity and without adequate response from security agencies.
He lamented that the government seemed helpless as the hoodlums overran the state, especially Yenagoa, the state capital, hunting down their perceived enemies, including some of the governor’s appointees.
Eradiri called on security agencies to rise to their responsibilities and quell the bloodletting, which he said was giving the state a bad image.
The former Commissioner for Youths and later Environment in Bayelsa said security agencies, especially the police and the Department of State Service (DSS), should identify the killers and bring them to justice.
Eradiri also called on Governor Douye Diri to rise to the challenge and embrace genuine youth empowerment beyond his usual assistant appointments.
He said, “I am saddened by the resurgence of cult-related killings in my dear Bayelsa State, especially Yenagoa, the state capital. Cultists are running amok, hacking down their perceived enemies while security agencies and the government stand in akimbo, helpless.
“It is high time we stopped this unnecessary wastage of human lives. Security agencies must rise to their responsibilities of protecting lives, and the government must embrace genuine youth empowerment and development beyond handing down meaningless appointments to youths.
“The government should keep the youths busy with quick-win direct labour projects every month. There must be a genuine agro support scheme and contract supplies to support the road construction companies doing work in the state.
‘’This approach is not rocket science. The government can create labour projects every month and keep the youth busy with them. It will create jobs for the youth and divert their attention from evil intentions. These killings must stop because it is giving our state a bad image. Enough is enough.”