The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the invasion, killing and maiming of citizens in Bayelsa State communities particularly Opu-Nembe in Nembe Local Government Area by thugs.
The party at a press conference by its national publicity secretary, Hon Debo Ologunagba, alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a former governor, who is the APC candidate in the November 11, 2023 Governorship election, recruited, sponsored and armed thugs.
Ologunagba said, “It is clear that the intension of the APC in this invasion and killing in Nembe is to intimidate and instill fear in the people so as to prevent them from freely exercising their democratic right to vote a governor of their choice, having realized that there is no way their candidate, Chief Timipre Silva, can win in a peaceful, free and fair election in Bayelsa State.
“The PDP is alarmed by pictorial and video evidence of the gruesome murder of promising Nembe youths including the only son of a widow by the APC thugs allegedly led by one Kojo Sam, who on February 15, 2023, killed three youths in the bid to subdue the community for openly expressing their rejection of Chief Sylva for neglecting and allegedly unleashing violence on their communities over the years.”
PDP said reports in the public domain have it that the thugs are usually lodged in a hotel allegedly owned by the former governor’s ally from where the assailants periodically launch gun attacks on the communities for rejecting the APC.
The PDP added that it is disturbed by the reported connivance of certain security operatives in these attacks on Nembe.
“Of particular concern is the report that these thugs adorn military attires to carry out their evil deeds as evidenced in the video of one of the thugs, Telimoye Awululu, who was captured wearing military uniform.
“Recently, a policeman and a Civil Defence personnel were reportedly arrested at a military checkpoint in Otakeme in Ogbia Local Government of the State allegedly accompanying armed men to Nembe.
“There are already allegations in the public space that some high-ranking police personnel are aiding this reprehensible scheme to use violence to forcefully gain control of Opu-Nembe so as to grant the APC the ground to massively rig the November 11, 2023 governorship election in the area.”
The party however called on the Inspector General of Police to immediately wade into the situation in Nembe and indeed Bayelsa State.
“The IGP should as a matter of urgency, launch an investigation into the alleged connivance of certain police officials in the invasion and killing in Opu-Nembe.”
The PDP also urged the IGP to invite the former governor for questioning as well as investigate the petitions already filed to his office by the people of Nembe with the view to apprehending the thugs and killers who unleashed mayhem on the community recently.
