Peace has finally returned to Peremabiri Community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa, as residents who fled from their ancestral community after the 2015 governorship election violence in the state returned home.
Some 900 people displaced during the violence who were taking refuge at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa returned to Peremabiri on Monday in more than 10 passenger boats to the warm embrace of their kinsmen.
It will be recalled that the indigenes of Peremabiri were displaced from their community as a result of violence that erupted during the December 2015 governorship election in the Bayelsa.
In his remarks, the Chairman, Caretaker Committee of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Mr Nigeria Kia, expressed satisfaction for their return to the community.
Kia commended Gov Seriake Dickson for making it possible for them to return to their various communities.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Mr Boma Sperrow-Jack, said since 2015, the government of Bayelsa had been responsible for their feeding and accommodation.
“In our days, Peremabiri was known for rice planting today, I am happy that it will be exporting it in large quantity.
“Everyone is happy to go back to their ancestral community after a long time,” he said.
Jack urged them to be law abiding as normalcy had finally returned to their community.
The Bayelsa Commissioner of Police, Mr Amber Asuquo, assured them of their safety, adding that the community was now calm.
Asuquo advised them to forget about the past as no society could achieve a meaningful development under a state of rancour.
The Commissioner also urged them to be law abiding and report any suspected cases of violence to the appropriate authority in the community.
Ebitimi Joseph, one of the returnees who spoke on behalf of others said that they were elated to return to their ancestral homes and applauded the state government for the welfare of the internally displaced people for about a two year period.
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