A police man and a youth were reportedly gunned down by unknown gunmen at Ologbhobiri in southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa state.
According to reports, the gunmen had arrived to the area via three speed boats. They attacked the residence of a popular ex-militant, Akparasia Owei, also known as General Africa, at about 11 p.m.
The gunmen fired at random and were successful in setting ablaze a part of the general’s property.
Reacting to the incident, the Bayelsa state police public relations officer, Mr. Emekpae Eguavoen, said that he has not been able to get reliable information on the incident, as his efforts to speak with the appropriate person in the area has so far been unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, in a mobile text message sent to Channels TV correspondent in Bayelsa state, the state’s Joint Task Force spokesperson, Lt. Col. Timothy Antiga said:
“I can confirm that the timely intervention and gallantry of JTF soldiers deployed at a nearby oil production facility saved Ologbori community from what culd have been a severe attack from unidentifed gunmen who razed down the residence of an erstwhile militant leader.
“One soldier sustained minor gunshot wounds in the firefight.”
The violence comes on the heels of twin blasts in the state capital city of Yenagoa, barely 24 hours ago. There were no recorded casualties from those attacks.
