In Swali, Bayelsa, where elders once settled rifts under mango trees, unrest spreads like harmattan fire. This week, Governor Douye Diri took the rare step of suspending a paramount ruler, His Royal Highness Wilcox Seiyefa Job, for failing to stem a tide of cult-related violence in his community. At the centre of the turmoil is the alleged involvement of the monarch’s own sons.
A monarch’s silence in the face of community violence has led to state-level consequences. Governor Diri’s suspension signals a new zero-tolerance approach to leadership complacency amid public safety concerns.
Key Takeaways
- Governor Diri suspended Swali's monarch over rising crime and cultism in the community.
- The suspension followed concerns about the ruler’s ineffective leadership in recent security crises.
- Allegations link two of the monarch’s sons to an active cult group
- The Commissioner of Police has been ordered to declare the sons wanted
- The state pledged to arrest and prosecute anyone involved in cultism across Swali
