…as boy with disability was shot in the leg amidst sporadic shooting
…suspects, Police, Civil defence personnel arrested
From Bassey Williams, Yenagoa
There is palpable tension in Opu-Nembe in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayless following the invasion of the community by unidentified gunmen allegedly dressed in Police and Military uniforms.
Reports gathered reveal that the gunmen, who drove into the community at about 7:00 pm on Saturday in as many as 24 Toyota Hilux vehicles and about 6 Coaster buses, threw residents into pandemonium as the youths and angry women, who stripped naked reportedly resisted them.
An eyewitness told newsmen that the armed gunmen who claimed to be members of the SWAT team from Police headquarters in Abuja and were reportedly in the Opu-Nembe were on a mission to effect the arrest of some boys who had allegedly defied invitation on the lingering crisis in the community.
The invading Policemen were held for hours at the entrance of the community by angry women, while a youth reportedly with deaf and dumb disability was shot in the leg. It was gathered that despite the blockades by the crying and protesting women of the Community, the armed Policemen gained entrance into the community but could not arrest anyone as the community had been deserted.
The Youth President of Opu Nembe Kingdom, Comrade Ayerite Moses, while confirming the development, said the invasion of the community was carried out by gunmen using the utility vehicles of a popular Surveillance Contractor from the community and they were given protective cover by some members of SWAT from Abuja.
Ayerite Moses also claimed that Five Youths from the Community have gone missing after the invasion and three were arrested by the unidentified gunmen.
He said the quick report to the Military base in Nembe led one Major Kanu to intervene on Saturday night and discussed with the armed policemen which led to ceasefire. He said Major Kanu has asked the Youths and Women in the community to remain calm.
Another indigene of the Community simply identified as Dressman, claimed the unidentified gunmen have confessed to having been sponsored by a politician to take over the community, “They confessed that they were hired to come to Nembe to take over the community. We know their plans. Their plan was to use the military to arrest and intimidate the people of Opu-Nembe while the thugs will forcefully take over the community for them. All these are because of their failed Governorship ambition.”
It was also gathered that a few kilometers from Nembe, Operatives of the joint military task force, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) arrested some youths with guns at a checkpoint at Otakeme community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
It was further gathered that at least one policeman and a Civil Defence personnel were arrested along with the armed youths at Otakeme community in Ogbia LGA while on their way to Opu-Nembe.
Also arrested were two security personnel who are believed to be on a special assignment to escort the gunmen to invade Opu-Nembe and are now being detained at the Sector 2 Command of the JTF alongside the armed youths. According to sources this development suggests a lot of compromise by top police authorities.
The armed youths were in two Hilux vehicles. A security source disclosed that the gunmen were thugs of one Kojo Sam, who is working with the immediate past Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, the APC gubernatorial candidate for the November 11 governorship election in Bayelsa state. According to sources the duo have been enmeshed in the crisis rocking the Opu-Nembe (Bassambiri) community in Nembe Local Government Area of the state. It will be recalled that in February this year, at least three persons were killed in the community as a result of the crisis.
A security source informed that the armed thugs attempted to gain entry into Opu-Nembe under the cover of the armed policemen deployed in both Bassambiri and Ogbolomabiri communities on Saturday night, allegedly on the order of the Inspector-General of Police, when they were apprehended by the OPDS personnel at Otakeme.
Another armed group from Rivers and Delta states was also warded off by the OPDS operatives on the waterways in the area.
Some chiefs in the community, however, expressed concern over the role of the IGP in the crisis and have accused him of bias. They claimed that the IGP had taken sides in the crisis with Chief Sylva’s faction.
Some members of the Civil Societies in Bayelsa State have called on the Acting Inspector-General of Police to immediately arrest the ugly situation in Opu-Nembe and must absolve himself from the armed invasion.
Also, the Member of the Federal House of Representatives representing Nembe/Brass Constituency, Hon. Marie Ebikake has called on the Nigerian Police and other security agencies to swing into action to arrest the situation in Opu- Nembe and stop the madness and mayhem vented by the gunmen in order to quickly restore calm and peace to the area.
According to Hon. Ebikake,” reports suggest that the area now bears a semblance of a ghost town with next to no profitable activities as many people are locked in or have hurried out of town out of panic and fear of what might come next.”
“The air of uncertainty and chaos that engulfed the area due to the sporadic shootings by the gunmen followed through to this morning. Opu- Nembe needs the immediate action and presence of the security agencies to rid it of these armed men as the feeling in the area is that these men are still intent on causing more harm and damage.”
“The motives for these attacks on the area is yet to be established, but the identification of the infamous Kojo as one of the protagonists coupled with the volatility of the Nembe region in the past suggests political connotations. whatever the case, the security agencies need to swoop in now and stop the mayhem of the gunmen in military uniform in coaster buses and escorted by the NPF were accosted by the military men guarding SETRACO staff and their equipment who are stationed at Otakeme, last night while the raiding was going on in Opu-Nembe.”
Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State Police Command in a statement through its spokesman, Asinim Butsway however confirmed that contrary to reports the unidentified gunmen were a detachment of Mobile Policemen (PMF) and SWAT operatives from Force Headquarters, Abuja who carried out a sting operation in Nembe Bassambiri on 12 August 2023, Some Arms and ammunition were recovered and suspects were arrested.
According to the Police Command, “the sting operation was conducted professionally, based on the standard operating procedure of the Nigeria Police Force. No life was lost.”
“Members of the community are urged to go about their lawful and legitimate businesses as the Police would not harass or intimidate any law-abiding citizen. The investigation is ongoing and the outcome would be made Public.”
