General
Source: DailyTrust
Women from Agudama-Epie in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State yesterday staged a peaceful protest over the killing of a youth from the area, Mulai George, which according to them was due to the poor handling of a land dispute by the state government.
It would be recalled that crisis erupted bet-ween two communities in the area in November last year over a protracted land dispute. Daily Trust gathered that the crisis led to the killing of George, just as several members of the community were injured.
The women blocked the busy Agudama-Epie axis of the Mbiama-Yenagoa road for over two hours yesterday, thereby disrupting vehicular traffic.
About six persons linked with the crisis were arrested by the state's police command last year.
The protesting women regretted what they described as the poor handling of the land dispute between them,(Agudama-Epie) and Akenfa community by the state government and security agencies, and urged the state government to brace up before the crisis degenerates.
Paramount ruler of Agudama-Epie, Chief Wisdom Franklin has also frowned at the manner by which the state government is handling the land dispute between both communities.
In an interview, Chief Franklin said he endorsed the protest by the women, but advised them not foment trouble.
He alleged that the community spent N1.8million on the treatment of those injured by Akenfa youths in November last year.
In the wake of the crisis last year, the state government called for a peace meeting at the Government House,Yenagoa, Daily Trust learnt. It was however gathered that while representatives of Agudama-Epie honoured the invitation, their Akenfa neighbours stayed away. Government had also warned that it would be forced to invoke a section of the constitution and take over the ownership of the disputed land if the crisis continues.