By Amos Okioma
LAGOS APRIL 20TH (URHOBOTODAY)-The Bayelsa Police Command has barred the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bayelsa Council from the planned procession in honour of its assassinated member with claims that the event and the publicity would generate would jeopardise investigations.
Mr Famous Giobaro, a Desk Editor at Radio Bayelsa, a.k.a. Glory FM, was murdered on Sunday by gunmen at his residence in Yenagoa.
Mr John Angese, Chairman of Bayelsa NUJ, who spoke on Wednesday in Yenagoa, said Bayelsa Police Commissioner, Mr Asuquo Amba, told the union to shelve the candle-lit procession.
The procession was billed to hold on Wednesday at the NUJ Secretariat in Yenagoa.
Angese said that the commissioner told the NUJ leadership to shelve the planned funeral procession, as he claimed that the event would obstruct tracking of the suspects.
Angese said that the police commissioner who declined to approve the public procession, pointed out that the ceremony would jeopardise ongoing investigation into the murder.
“Amba had assured the council that the police will fish out the killers of the journalist, saying that a suspect was being interrogated.
“The claim that our planned candle-lit procession would mar investigation is difficult to understand, but we have to shelve it, so that it will not be an excuse, they promised to conclude the case in one week, one week is not too far.
“We are waiting as we mourn the demise of one of us cut down in his prime in cold blood,” Angese said.
The NUJ had in a statement on Monday condemned the assassination, urging the police to detect the culprits and prosecute them.