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Sets up interim governing committee
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From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, has directed the immediate removal of the paramount ruler of the Ogboinbiri community in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Chief Okosughe Benson Eseimokumo, following an intractable conflict in the area.
Diri, who took decisive action during the April 2026 Praise Night at the King of Glory Chapel in Government House, Yenagoa, also directed the immediate dissolution of the Ogboinbiri Council of Chiefs, the Community Development Committee (CDC), and the youth body.
The governor’s action followed a violent dispute that had gripped the community, resulting in loss of life and arson attacks. These events recently prompted the state government to impose a dusk-to-dawn curfew on the community.
Diri equally directed his deputy, Dr Peter Akpe, and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Thompson Amule, to constitute an interim committee to oversee the affairs of Ogboinbiri pending the restoration of peace and security.
The state’s helmsman charged the commissioner of police to ensure that all culprits directly involved in the incident are apprehended and brought to justice.
Diri explained that the state government had yet to accord Chief Eseimokumo full recognition as the paramount ruler, pending the resolution of the protracted conflicts in Ogboinbiri.
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His words: “Security is everyone’s business. The state has been peaceful except for the unfortunate recent incident of killing and arson in the Ogboinbiri community.
“I have been very patient with the Ogboinbiri community. Violent disputes have been ongoing for about two to three years now.
“I had set up different committees to resolve the lingering conflict there to no avail. I even directed my deputy to intervene. I invited the traditional ruler and the youths to my office in Yenagoa, yet recently there was killing and burning of houses.
“The Commissioner of Police and all security agencies are hereby directed to ensure that all those directly involved in that dastardly act are arrested, and the law must take its full course. To that extent, all youth-related bodies in Ogboinbiri are dissolved from this day forward. The CDC, from this day, stands dissolved.
“The paramount ruler of Ogboinbiri is hereby sacked as he has yet to be recognised by the state government. I was waiting for peace to be restored for us to recognise him, but, unfortunately, I am very sure he cannot hold that community together. We must say no to the evil acts in Ogboinbiri.”
Diri expressed concern over violent clashes in oil-producing communities arising from the sharing of proceeds from oil companies operating in their areas. He noted that these proceeds, which he described as “peanuts”, could not be compared to the vast benefits oil firms derive from such communities.
“We cannot afford to kill ourselves for pecuniary gains or for whatever reason. Ogboinbiri is an oil-producing community, and I keep telling them that what they are receiving is peanuts compared to what the oil companies get from Ogboinbiri.”
