Security
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Outrage as Police Shoot Asiayei Benalayefa Dead in Yenagoa, Family Demands Justice.
IduwiniVoice Newspaper,
Warning ⚠️: Viewers’ discretion.
Outrage as Police Shoot Asiayei Benalayefa Dead in Yenagoa, Family Demands Justice.
IduwiniVoice Newspaper,
By Divine Perezide,
Yenagoa, Bayelsa State – The tragic death of Benalayefa Bako Asiayei, a 40-year-old electrician, has sparked outrage and calls for justice after he was shot by a Nigerian police officer on Zikoro Road, Yenagoa, at approximately 8 p.m. on May 27, 2024.
Asiayei, a resident of Yenagoa originally from Ayakoromo in Burutu Local Government Area and Akugbene Town in Bomadi LGA, Delta State, was returning home from work when the incident occurred. He was driving his Sienna car with one passenger in the front seat when he was stopped by a Douakpo police patrol team.
According to an eyewitness, the police officers demanded N200 from Asiayei, a routine extortion from motorists. Asiayei reportedly explained that he did not have the money and that he was carrying only one passenger. Moments later, a police officer allegedly fired his gun, fatally wounding Asiayei.
Asiayei’s in-law, Chief Asiayei Zaiky, arrived at the scene after noticing the crowd around the vehicle and identified his in-law’s car. He raised the alarm, and an eyewitness managed to take a photograph of the officer responsible for the shooting before the police team fled the scene.
The deceased’s body was initially taken to the Government House in Yenagoa before being moved to the FMC Mortuary by the police. In the aftermath, the Asiayei family visited the local police station to demand an explanation for the shooting. The police stated that the incident was a mistake and confirmed that the officer involved is currently in custody.
The Asiayei family, mourning the loss of a father of three, is seeking justice for the brutal murder. They have called on the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, Sen. Douye Diri, and the Inspector General of Police to ensure that the officer responsible is held accountable. The family also urged the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide to take action against police brutality in Bayelsa State.
In a statement, the family emphasized the need for immediate and decisive action: “We are calling on the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, Sen. Douye Diri, and the Inspector General of Police to urgently bring to book the policeman who shot Bena to death. We also call on the Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide to take necessary action against police brutality in Bayelsa State.”
The incident has further exacerbated the calls for reforms and greater accountability within the Nigerian police force, highlighting ongoing issues of police misconduct and brutality.
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By Favour Bibaikefie
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, has issued a stern warning to military personnel deployed across the Niger Delta, cautioning them against involvement in oil theft and any act capable of undermining Nigeria’s critical oil infrastructure.
General Oluyede gave the warning during an operational engagement with troops and military commanders in the oil-rich region, where he emphasized the strategic importance of safeguarding national assets and maintaining the integrity of ongoing security operations.
According to the Defence Chief, the Armed Forces remain fully committed to protecting Nigeria’s oil and gas facilities, which serve as the backbone of the nation’s economy. He stressed that any compromise by personnel entrusted with this responsibility would amount to a betrayal of national trust.
“The protection of oil infrastructure is a sacred national duty,” Oluyede stated. “Any personnel found to be involved in oil theft or sabotage will face strict disciplinary measures in accordance with military regulations.”
He further warned that the military leadership would not tolerate any form of collusion between security personnel and criminal networks engaged in illegal oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism, or economic sabotage.
Military authorities have repeatedly identified oil theft as a major threat to Nigeria’s economic stability, with billions of naira reportedly lost annually due to illegal bunkering activities and pipeline vandalism. The Niger Delta, which accounts for the bulk of the country’s crude oil production, has remained a focal point of both economic activity and security operations.
A senior military officer familiar with ongoing operations noted that recent reforms and intensified surveillance have begun to yield positive results. “We are strengthening internal monitoring mechanisms to ensure accountability among our personnel while sustaining pressure on criminal elements,” the officer said.
Security analysts say the CDS’s directive signals renewed determination by the military high command to enforce discipline within its ranks while restoring public confidence in the Armed Forces’ role as protectors of national resources.
General Oluyede reassured Nigerians that the military remains resolute in its mission to secure the Niger Delta and support national economic recovery. He urged troops to remain professional and loyal to their constitutional responsibilities, emphasizing that their conduct directly impacts national stability and economic progress.
The warning comes amid ongoing federal efforts to curb oil theft, increase crude oil production, and stabilize revenue generation, which remains vital to Nigeria’s fiscal sustainability.
By Admin
Abuja – A proposal to create 31 additional states across Nigeria is currently under consideration by the House of Representatives Committee on Constitutional Review. According to the committee, the move aims to address concerns about representation, governance, and regional development across the country.
The proposed states are distributed across various geopolitical zones, with six states suggested for the North-Central region, four for the North-East, five for the North-West, five for the South-South, and seven for the South-West. The committee has indicated that the proposal is in line with Section 8(1) of the Nigerian Constitution, which outlines the requirements for state creation.
Proposed States by Region
North-Central
1. Benue Ala (Benue)
2. Okun (Kogi)
3. Okura (Kogi)
4. Confluence (Kogi)
5. Apa-Agba (Benue South Senatorial District)
6. Apa (Benue)
7. Federal Capital Territory, Abuja (as an autonomous state)
North-East
8. Amana (Adamawa)
9. Katagum (Bauchi)
10. Savannah (Borno)
11. Muri (Taraba)
North-West
12. New Kaduna (Kaduna)
13. Gurara (Kaduna)
14. Tiga (Kano)
15. Kainji (Kebbi)
16. Ghari (Kano)
South-East
17. Etiti (New)
18. Adada (Enugu)
19. Urashi (New)
20. Orlu (Imo)
21. Aba (Abia)
South-South
22. Ogoja (Cross River)
23. Warri (Delta)
24. Bori (Rivers)
25. Obolo (Rivers & Akwa Ibom), possibly a renamed Oil Rivers State
South-West
26. Toru-Ebe (Delta, Edo & Ondo)
27. Ibadan (Oyo)
28. Lagoon (Lagos & Ogun)
29. Ibeju (Ogun)
30. Ife-Ijesha (Ogun, Oyo & Osun)
31. Oke-Ogun (Ogun, Oyo & Osun)
Constitutional Process for State Creation
The proposal will require approval through a series of legislative steps. The Nigerian Constitution stipulates that for a new state to be established, it must be supported by at least a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly, the State House of Assembly, and local government councils in the affected areas. Additionally, a referendum will be conducted, with the final decision forwarded to the National Assembly for ratification.
This proposed restructuring has generated mixed reactions, with some viewing it as a step toward decentralization and regional autonomy, while others question its feasibility given Nigeria’s economic and political landscape.
What are your thoughts on this development? Share your views!
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INC Demands the Creation of Toru-ebe and Oil Rivers States to Address the Underdevelopment of Ijaw Nation.
By Admin – Yenagoa
Ijaw National Congress (INC), the highest socio-cultural body representing the Ijaw people globally, has renewed its call for the establishment of two homogeneous Ijaw states—Toru-Ebe and Oil Rivers—citing persistent infrastructural under-development, political marginalization, and environmental neglect.
This was disclosed during a press conference held on Wednesday at Ijaw Ware in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. The INC President, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, emphasized that despite being Nigeria’s fourth-largest ethnic group and hosting some of the country’s key oil export terminals as the single highest producer of oil and gas, the Ijaw people have endured systemic neglect, both in infrastructure and politics.
“We call on the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and all distinguished members of the National Assembly to seize this moment in history and act in the interest of justice,” Prof. Okaba stated.
He described this demand as a crucial step toward achieving justice, equity, and lasting peace in the Niger Delta, stressing that it would help redress historical injustices, drive economic progress, and secure a better future for the Ijaw people.
According to the INC, the creation of the proposed states would not only address issues of political exclusion and under-development, but also strengthen national unity. The organization urged all Ijaw people, along with other well-meaning Nigerians, to support the move towards the actualization of this critical milestone for fairness and equity.