Gunmen suspected to be sponsored political thugs, on Saturday, disrupted the rally and inauguration of the NEW Associates group at the Church of God Mission Camp, Igbogene, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.
The rally organised by the supporters of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, in appreciation of President Bola Tinubu for appointing sons and daughters of the state into positions of government, was also aimed declaring support for Wike, who is the grand patron of the group.
Recall that the rally earlier fixed for April 12 was shifted to April 26, after supporters of Governor Douye Diri also fixed their rally for the same date and venue.
The supporters of NEW Associates who had thronged the Church of God Mission Camp arena as early as 8am, were already seated when the gunmen emerged from the nearby creeks and bush shooting spirodically.
The supporters, however, ran for their lives while the combined security personnel from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) and Department of State Service (DSS), engaged the hoodlums to retreat.
They also combed the surrounding bushes to forestall any further attacks.
Speaking shortly after the incident, the secretary of NEW Associates and former spokesman of Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Comrade Ebilade Ekerefe, accused the Bayelsa State government of trying to scatter their peaceful rally, vowing to continue with the rally.
He said they organised the peaceful rally to appreciate President Tinubu for appointing sons and daughters of the state into positions of responsibilities in his government, wondering why somebody should feel threatened with a peaceful rally.
He said: “How will somebody go after the law-abiding citizens of Nigeria, particularly Ijaw youths, who have gathered to associate politically. We are not here to cause any trouble, we are here to express our supports, solidarity to the President and Commander-in-Chief.”
Also, the immediate-past Commissioner of Health in Bayelsa State, Dr Pabara Igwele, said the rally was a peaceful one, that anybody trying to cause panic was doing so for political reason.
He vowed to continue with the rally despite the earlier disruption by hoodlums.
As at the time of this report, the rally was ongoing as the Wike supporters regrouped after the shooting incident to continue the programme.
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