Community dissociates PDP from Sagbama killing

THE  people of Tungbabiri community, Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, yesterday dissociated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State of complicity in the killing of a 32 years old man at a campaign rally in the community.

The community leaders and youths including the caretaker Chairman of the community, Michael Magbisa, Paramount ruler of the community, Godbless Fetomfa and the youth president, Ebimene Embikoro, all condemned the act and demanded that the culprits be brought to book.

Hoodlums suspected to be hired by the opposition had allegedly invaded the campaign rally organised by the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the community killing one person, Brave Embikoro, injuring 16 others.

The injured persons were those reportedly stabbed while running for their dear lives while the person who died, an APC loyalist, was cut down by machete.

The incident which almost turned into a family war resulted in many houses set on fire by irate community youths, as some loyalists of the APC alleged that the attack was sponsored by the PDP.

ALSO READ: Allow us vote our choice candidates, group tells Dickson

But the Council Chairman, Magbisa, who consoled with widow and family of the slain community folk, told journalists that the act was an act of criminality which everyone must condemn.

He said, “I condemn the death and the violence in its totality. This man who died is my third cousin. When I heard immediately, I contacted the youths and the women, but let me be clear that this is not a party matter.

“The perpetrator is a cultist, a criminal and a hoodlum and I call on the security agencies to fish him out. People who are reading politics into it wants to kill the case.

“I have addressed the youths and nobody is happy about this, but peace must return. The law must take its course. These people linking me, the PDP or the Governor are detractors and enemies.

“I have never fought anybody or disrespected an elder. Same with governor Dickson who has always talked about his hatred for criminalities, which is underscored by how many bills he has sent to the state assembly to curb crime.”

The paramount ruler of the community who narrated how the incident transpired, said the matter was not a matter of APC or PDP, but that of a case that should be treated as criminality against humanity.

He said, “what happened here yesterday is not an APC or PDP matter, what happened here is pure criminality. This boy has always had the intention to kill people for a long time.

“The APC aspirants were all here to campaign which is the normal thing. All other political parties do come to the community to campaign and no violence has been recorded. This is a peace loving community. That boy has the motive of killing people.”

The community youth president, Ebimene Embikoro and a member of the PDP in the community, Joseph Tonfa, also called on security agencies to fish out the killer, who they said is a well-known criminal in the community.

The spokesperson of the Bayelsa State Police Command, Asinim Butswat, had earlier confirmed the incident, saying that one person had been arrested in connection to the crime.

He said: “On 2nd February 2019, at about 1530hours, thugs disrupted APC campaign rally at Tungbabiri, Sagbama Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.

“The thugs numbering about 15 disrupted and attacked APC party faithfuls at a Political rally at Tungbabiri. In the ensuing melee, one Braye Embikorobiri of Tungbabiri Community sustained critical injuries and later died. Two other victims, names yet unknown were critically injured and are responding to treatment in the hospital.

“One suspect, Isaac Abrowei ‘m’ 42 years, from Bolou-Orua, but resident at Tungbabiri has been arrested, the thugs who mastermind the act and their alleged sponsor have been identified and the Police has launched a manhunt to arrest them.
“The command has mobilised officers to restore normalcy in the community and efforts have been intensified to arrest the fleeing suspects.”