Bayelsa: Militants stormed Peremabiri Community

Five days to the supplementary election in Southern Ijaw, Peremabiri, in the local government area yesterday witnessed sporadic shooting, when armed militants stormed the community.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had cancelled the results of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area following violence during the December 5, 2015 governorship election and scheduled a supplementary election for January 9.

In the election, Governor Seriake Dickson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won six local government areas, while Chief Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won only one local council.

Yesterday, sources revealed that the militants stormed Peremabiri, shot sporadically and thereby caused panic in the community.

Residents of the riverine community scampered for safety, as the militants shot to scare people.

Following the shooting, naval personnel have been deployed in the community to maintain security, ahead of the supplementary election on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the PDP and the APC are trading words on the shootout.

In a statement yesterday, Director of Publicity in Restoration Campaign Organisation, an agency of the PDP, Mr. Jonathan Obuebite, said armed militants carried out the shootings.

He called for the immediate arrest of Eris Paul aka General Ogunboss. He recalled how Governor Dickson had, during a world press conference, alleged that the APC was planning to rig the election by using militants to unleash violence in Southern Ijaw.

Condemning the act of violence on his people, Obuebite further called on the security agencies to swiftly mobilise men to Peremabiri to arrest the situation and, also, bring the perpetrators to book.

However, elders and the traditional ruler of Peremabiri yesterday dismissed as ‘false’, the reported gun battle between former militants loyal to both the APC and the PDP.

According to the elders of the Peremabiri Community, though there were confrontations among some loyalists of the APC and the PDP following the arrival into the community of the foremost former militant leader, Eris Paul known as Ogunboss, the issue was settled and peace has returned to the community.

Speaking on behalf of the community, Chief Simeon Karibo dismissed the claims of heavy gun battle between former militants as false and a calculated attempt to disenfranchise the people of the area,

“Our community is peaceful, contrary to reports being circulated and we are ready for the January 9 election,” he said.

Ogunboss, on his part, dismissed the story of attack on the community, noting that paid agents of PDP instructed to attack him took to their heels and were shooting into the air when he entered the community.

Meanwhile, Ondo State Governor and Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum, Olusegun Mimiko, yesterday challenged President Muhammad Buhari to ensure that elections in the country are conducted in a free and fair manner.

According to Mimiko, though the present administration under President Buhari is seven months old, the only change needed from the ruling APC is a free, fair and credible election.

Mimiko, who paid a private visit yesterday to Dickson at the Bayelsa State Government House, said conducting a credible election is the greatest change Nigerians would applaud.