Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has suspended the Paramount Ruler of Swali Community, a suburb of the state capital, Yenagoa, HRH Wilcox Seiyefa Job, with immediate effect.
This was announced in a special government communiqué by the State Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, alongside her counterpart in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Thompson Amule, on Wednesday.
Job is the first traditional ruler to be suspended following a spate of violent cult attacks that have caused significant bloodshed in the state in recent weeks.
According to the announcement, Job failed to demonstrate the leadership expected of him in combating crime and cultism within his community.
Furthermore, credible intelligence reportedly implicated two of his sons in cult-related activities in the area.
Governor Diri has directed the State Commissioner of Police, Francis Idu, to declare the two sons, along with all others involved in cultism in Swali Community, wanted.
Idu was also instructed to arrest those implicated for investigation and prosecution.
The announcement stated: ‘The Governor of Bayelsa State, His Excellency Senator Douye Diri, has approved the suspension of the Paramount Ruler of Swali Community in Yenagoa Local Government Area, HRH Wilcox Seiyefa Job.
‘The suspension takes immediate effect.
‘This action is due to the traditional ruler’s failure to exhibit the leadership expected of his position in the fight against crime and cultism, amid credible intelligence that two of his sons are involved in cult activities within the community.
‘The Commissioner of Police has been directed to declare the two royal sons and all those involved in cultism in Swali wanted. All those implicated are to be arrested for investigation and prosecution’.
Swali Community has remained a hotspot for cult activities, particularly involving the Bobos group, with four people killed in cult-related violence earlier this month.
Following the killings, Job had called for the establishment of a police station in the community.
