Bayelsa holds mass burial for PDP women leaders

The Government of Bayelsa State has fixed Saturday for the burial of the Peoples Democratic Party Women Leaders, who died in an auto crash along the East-West Road in Rivers State last week.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the burial arrangement was announced by the Bayelsa State Government after a closed-door meeting with families of the victims.

NAN learnt from the Federal Road Safety Commission that nine of the 11 accident victims were burnt beyond recognition, a development that compelled the government to take the option of a mass burial.

The government said a service of songs would hold at the Bayelsa Cultural Centre along Hospital Road in Yenagoa.

A family source, Cherish Itesi, told NAN that state Governor, Seriake Dickson, had directed the Deputy Governor, John Jonah, to meet with the families over the funeral arrangements.

Itesi said the burial venue would be at Ijaw Hero's Park in Yenagoa after the Service of Songs at the Bayelsa Cultural Centre.

He said those expected to attend would include Dickson, Jonah, members of the State Executive Council, the legislature, party members, family members and well wishers.

Itesi said the affected families would organise burial ceremonies for the victims in accordance with the Ijaw tradition after the burial by the state government.