Bayelsa cultists kill two as pirates rob traders
Gunmen suspected to be cultists on Monday killed two men along Good News Street, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The killing occurred a day after pirates
unleashed terror on traders along Akasa River in Brass Local Government
Area of the state.
Our correspondent learnt that the Yenagoa
shooting created panic among residents as many feared renewed cult
clashes in the city.
Sources identified the victims simply as Orlando and Bishop from Ekeremor LGA.
While some claimed that Bishop was a
security aide to Governor Seriake Dickson, the Senior Special Adviser to
Dickson on Media and Publicity, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said he was
not aware of any security aide by such name.
The attack reportedly occurred at about 9am.
When our correspondent visited the scene of
the incident, policemen led by the Divisional Police Officer, Azikoro
Police Station, Mrs. Rita Grean, cordoned off the area.
It was learnt that the assailants trailed
their victims who were driving a Sports Utility Vehicle with
registration number, GBJ 154 AA, to the street.
The bandits, who reportedly wore
bulletproof vests, were said to have driven their SUV closer to the
victims before opening fire on them.
An eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, said,
“They shot the two men from the side windows and moved to the front of
the vehicle to shoot them again.”
Our correspondent also learnt that traders lost their valuables to the pirates who were said to have operated on Sunday.
The hoodlums were said to have snatched one of the boats conveying the traders.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Fidelis Odunna, confirmed the two incidents to our correspondent.
Meanwhile, the governor condemned the killing of the men in a statement by his Special Adviser on Security, Bernard Kenebai.
Dickson also denied claims that one of the victims of the incident was his security aide.
The statement said, “Governor Dickson is
deeply sad by this incident and wishes to condole with the families of
the deceased. We wish to debunk claims and insinuations that the persons
killed are security aides to the governor.
“They were actually repentant militants working closely with the JTF, police and the SSS.”
