The Bayelsa State government established a six-member Judicial Panel of Enquiry on Tuesday to investigate the February 15 violence in the Nembe-Bassambiri community, which resulted in the deaths of three residents.
The investigation comes around six months after the incident.
Former Chief Justice Margaret Akpomiemie (ret.) and current Ministry of Justice representative Mr. Diepreye Omubo (ret.) will serve as chair and secretary, respectively. Members also include Chief Fedude Zimughan, Mrs. Josephine Igodo, Love Amaseimogha, and Vining Goselle, a representative from the Bayelsa office of the National Human Rights Commission.
Three weeks have been allotted for the panel to finish its work and submit its findings report to the government for further action.
At the Government House in Yenagoa, Governor Douye Diri announced the formation of a judicial panel with the charge to investigate both the proximate and remote factors that contributed to the violence on February 15.
At the ceremony, Diri was represented by his deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, who noted that the panel’s chairman and members had been handpicked for their proven credentials and extensive expertise in order to successfully complete the mission.
A statement by the deputy governor’s media aide, Mr Doubara Atasi, said, “We are going to unearth the cause of the death and those responsible for the killings. This is necessary because every life is important.”
