NEMBE/Nigeria: Just few hours to the 2019 Governorship election in Bayelsa State, there was pandemonium was on Wednesday in Nembe Ogbolomabiri in Nembe local government area of Bayelsa state following the alleged invasion of the governorship rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by armed men suspected to be members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
But the All Progressive Congress (APC) has debunked the claims by the PDP that those involved in the bloody fracas and shooting are opposition members.
It was gathered that a staff of the Bayelsa State Broadcasting Corporation owners of Radio and driver of the Outside Broadcasting van identified as Simon Onu was hit by flying bullet and died on the spot while trying to maneuver his vehicle from the troubled spot.
Four other persons identified as supporters of the PDP and indigenes of the Nembe-Ogbolomabiri community were reported killed in the bloody shooting. A policeman was also reportedly shot in the leg.
The governorship campaign rally of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which was slated to hold in the area was disrupted and party faithful chased out of the area.
Governor Seriake Dickson, who was billed to attend the rally in company of the candidate of the party, Senator Douye Diri, however condemned the bloody attack.
Signs of trouble came when reports filtered to the PDP supporters that the home of the commissioner of education, Dr. Jonathan Obuebite, was ransacked by the hoodlums.
Trouble, it was learnt, started when some supporters of one of the political parties started defacing posters and flags of the rival Political party.
Serious shooting by armed men reportedly rocked the King Koko Square venue of the campaign as party supporters waiting for the dignitaries to arrive took to their heels.
The attackers, it was also learned, opened fire on the Protocol bus of the Bayelsa state government House along the junction between Bassambiri and Ogbolomabiri.
The trapped journalists were, however, rescued and moved out of the troubled area by armed military personnel.
Confirming the shootings the incident, spokesperson of the Nembe Chiefs Council, Chief Nengi James, said there was a clash between rival supporters of the PDP and APC in Nembe resulting in injuries.
He said: “I can confirm that supporters of the PDP and APC clash in Nembe with some persons sustaining various degree of injuries,however, no death has been recorded.”
Also, a prominent indigene of the area and former senator representing Bayelsa East senatorial district, Senator Nimi Barigha-Amang, has condemned in its entirety the act of provocation and violence unleashed on the community.
In his statement Chief Senator Nimi Barigha-Amangi noted that the approved venue for the PDP rally was King Koko Square and instead of going about their normal business of the day, went about chanting war songs around the community terrorising and molesting passers by.
Chief Barigha-Amange said that this was uncalled for, because other patties did use the same venue for their rallies which was very peaceful and rancour free.
He, however, warned that no individual should hide under any political platform to breach the already existing peace and harmonious relationship amongst the people in Nembe.
He called on the various security agencies in the area to redouble their efforts in stopping trouble makers from further terrorising the peace loving people of Nembe in the name of politics as no group would be allowed to over run the Nembe community.
The police public relations officer, Asinim Bustwart, was yet to respond as at press time.
Reacting to the development, the National Vice Chairman of PDP (South-South), Elder Emmanuel Ogidi ,described the incident as unfortunate despite the peace accord,’ the APC were here to campaign,no one attacked them. I think I know why they did this, it is because they did it during the last election and got away with it. It is unacceptable. I don’t why the APC people are blood thirsty.’
‘We want the federal government to take action. We want the FG to bring those involved to book. We, as the PDP, will not take the law into our own hands. We call on security agencies to take action. Election is not war. Am worried that the APC as a party are blood thirsty.’
