The Bayelsa State Government has called on the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, to produce the soldiers who shot the Government House Photographer, Mr. Reginald Dei, and the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Oweikorogha, Mr. Seidougha Taribi during the Presidential/National Assembly elections in Bayelsa.
While Taribi died on the spot, Dei was rushed to the hospital where he passed on Sunday.
The Director in charge of Strategic Communications, Governor’s Office, Nathan Egba-Ologo, said that the COAS has a responsibility to redeem the image of the Army to ensure the arrest and trial of the soldiers who murdered Dei and Seidougha in Southern Ijaw on Election Day.
He stressed that the deceased were killed in the house of Taribi while they were waiting for the results of the election in their polling units several meters away from the polling unit where they voted.
He said that the earlier narrative that the deceased were killed by soldiers in Army uniform would not stand anymore as the Publicity Secretary of APC, Mr. Buokoribo Doifie, has confirmed in reports that a member of his party identified as Thankgod Deizigha led the soldiers to the residence where they were shot.
According to Egba-Ologo, the claim by the APC Spokesman in Bayelsa that the duo were shot because they found election materials with them was a wild allegation which should be investigated.
He said that the Bayelsa State Government would adopt all lawful measures to ensure that those behind the heinous act are brought to justice.
READ ALSO: Election Result: PDP, Atiku Seek Order from Tribunal to Inspect Election Materials
He said, “The Bayelsa State Government is making a passionate appeal to the Chief Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, to investigate, identify and prosecute the soldiers who murdered a Government House Photographer, Mr. Reginald Dei, and a Chieftain of the PDP, Mr. Seidougha Taribi, on February 23, 2019 in Southern Ijaw.
“Contrary to our initial thinking that the gruesome murder was carried out by armed men in Army uniform, fresh facts have emerged that soldiers of the Nigerian Army killed the photo journalist and his friend in Southern Ijaw.
“The State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr. Doifie Buokoribo, said in a report carried by the Nation Newspaper of March 5, 2019, that an agent of the APC led the soldiers to the residence of Seidougha Taribi to kill the deceased during a phantom gun battle.
“We are of the strong view that the Nigerian Army under the leadership of Gen. Buratai has a responsibility to intervene and ensure investigation of this brazen act to redeem the image of the service.
“The Bayelsa State Government and Bayelsans would adopt all lawful means to seek justice in this brazen act of terror perpetrated against our citizens by a collusion of thugs and soldiers.”
