The Bayelsa State Police Command has confirmed the killing of four persons in a deadly attack that occurred in Swali community, Yenagoa, on Easter Sunday.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Command, DSP Musa Mohammed, said security in the area has been strengthened to prevent further violence and ensure the safety of residents.
Mohammed also stated that the attack may not be linked to cult clashes, stressing that the command was working to maintain law and order.
He called on the public to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies by providing useful information as efforts were ongoing to track down the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
However, a community source who spoke on condition of anonymity on Tuesday, said that the gunmen, armed with AK-47 rifles and other dangerous weapon, invaded the community from the nearby river, firing at innocent residents who had just returned from Easter church services.
According to the source, the gunmen did not steal any property but appeared to have come specifically for their targets.
He added that some people also sustained injuries from the attack, while others residents are relocating from the community for fear of future attack.
Lawmaker representing Yenagoa Constituency 1 in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Hon. Chief Ayibanegiyefa Egba, has strongly condemned the attack.
Egba, who visited the grieving community on Tuesday, described the attack as shocking and barbaric.
She offered her heartfelt sympathy to the families of those killed and the entire Swali community.
The lawmaker called on residents to stay united and remain alert against outsiders who might cause trouble in their neighborhood.
She also urged young people in the area to avoid crime and stay away from anything that could endanger their future.
