The appeal was contained in an open letter made available to SaharaReporters on Wednesday.
A coalition of some concerned indigenes has written a plea to President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene and resolve the Opu-Nembe conflict in the oil-rich Bayelsa State.
The appeal was contained in an open letter made available to SaharaReporters on Wednesday.
Signed by Chief E.T. Ikoli, Chief Johnbull Efere, Afuroyanate Beredugo, Naomi Jonah, Alanabo Digigha, and Mr Ayebaemi Kieriseiye, the open letter detailed the brutal deaths during the crisis.
The letter hinted that the Inspector General of Police had since initiated a criminal case concerning the tragic incident on February 15, where harmless, law-abiding citizens were murdered in the community.
The letter disclosed that gunmen allegedly associated with a popular pipeline surveillance contractor attacked the community, which resulted in the deaths of Baite Agala, Queen Kieriseiye, and Inikio Walter.
According to the coalition, the attackers also caused great damage to property worth millions of naira and left many residents homeless.
It said that in August 2023, the same individuals, accompanied by members of the Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), returned to the community, resulting in further casualties and arrests.
The gunmen who were said to be aided by the SWAT team have since occupied the community, instilling fear and terror among the populace.
Many residents who oppose their presence have either fled or been living in constant fear of retaliation.
It was however gathered that the case, with charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/323/2023, had since been filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja against one Lugard Martina, Dautibi Paul Okolai, Appy Sunday Julius, Michael Kumosuonyo, and others believed to be involved in the crime.
As stated in the attached charge sheet, they are being charged with offences like terrorism, murder and theft.
The letter partly reads, "Your Excellency, we have just been reliably informed by DCP Simon Lough (SAN) who is the Lead Prosecuting Counsel in the case that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) has decided not to prosecute the matter further (nolle prosequi).
"Hence the witnesses failed to show up when called upon to testify in court.
"While we acknowledge the power of the AGF to give formal notice to discontinue a court case instituted by any authority or person in the country, he can only do that based on ‘public interest, the interest of justice and the need to prevent abuse of legal process’ as enshrined in our extant laws.
“Your Excellency will agree with us that this particular murder case is of utmost public interest and too grave to be discontinued without getting justice.”