Aug. 14, 2023

The Bayelsa government has linked Saturday’s shootout between the police and armed youths in Nembe-Basambri to the forthcoming Nov. 11 governorship election in the state.

Chief Ayibaina Duba, Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday in Yenogoa.

According to the statement, the state government was of the “strong suspicion” that the incident was not unconnected with the forthcoming poll in the state.

Hoodlums, believed to be terrorising the Basambri settlement in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa, engaged a police team deployed to the area in a gun duel forcing the residents to scamper for safety.

The statement expressed the government’s displeasure over the shootings saying “it created a serious sense of insecurity, panic and fear among the people of the community.

“Government will continue to work with the police and its sister agencies to ensure that the perpetrators of this dastardly act are brought to book.

“The Bayelsa State Government calls on the Inspector General of Police to call for an immediate probe aimed at unravelling the identity of the criminals and their sponsors who have continued to undermine public peace in Nembe.

“It is time to stop handling the tormentors of the Nembe people with a kid gloves,” the statement said.

The statement urged the police high command to be on top of the situation without further delay and unveil the perpetrators.

A joint police tactical team from the Police Headquarters and the Police Command in Bayelsa conducted the operation in Nembe on Saturday.