The Chairman of Southern Ijaw Local Government council in Bayelsa State, Honourable Target Isaiah Segibo, has condemned the disturbances in Ogboinbiri community in the area.
A statement signed by Easter-Day Ayibatairi, the Chief press secretary to the chairman, said that the crisis came as a result of a report lodged with security operatives against the Youth President, Mr Experience Pere, by some indigenes of the community, over stolen electric poles.
According to Ayibatairi, the Youth President was allegedly caught with some metal electric poles, suspected to have been stolen, on Monday and some indigenes of the community, led by one Maxwell, reported the matter to men and officers of the anti-piracy unit at Ogboinbiri.
Mr. Pere and some of his supporters according to him, took offence against Mr Maxwell, for informing the police, and allegedly went on a rampage, destroying some buildings belonging to the paramount ruler, His Royal Highness Okosughe Eseimokumo and others.
He added that the irate youths also attacked some people suspected to be family members and supporters of the paramount ruler.
This he said sparked off retaliatory action by the paramount ruler’s family members and his supporters which led to one Ifolo, sustaining serious injury.
Continuing he said that Ifolo was rushed to the Ogboinbiri Cottage hospital for medical attention, where doctors confirmed him dead.
The statement disclosed that several dozen indigenes have fled the community for fear of the unknown, while three suspects have been arrested in connection with the crisis.
It stated that the crisis was not connected to the Ogboinbiri chieftaincy dispute.
“We call on law enforcement agencies to move in and restore peace to avoid escalation of the crisis and bring perpetrators of the dastardly act to book.
“As a government, we condemn all forms of lawlessness in our communities, as such are capable of destroying public and private assets as well as endangering the lives of our people. Council is already on top of the matter”, the statement read in.parts.
