September 10, (THEWILL) — Tension has gripped Okpoama Kingdom in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State following the invasion of armed thugs at the venue of the Okpoama Chiefs Council meeting.
The meeting, scheduled to hold at the community town hall, was disrupted by hoodlums allegedly loyal to a faction that lost the Chiefs Council elections held in April 2025.
The group is said to have ties to former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva.
Some chiefs present at the meeting alleged that the attack was pre-planned, noting that the thugs reportedly held a strategy session in a local hotel before the incident.
They also claimed that mobile networks in the community were deliberately shut down to prevent calls for help while the attack was underway.
Sources confirmed that the Chiefs were billed to hold their second meeting of the year on August 28 and 29.
However, trouble began after a faction allegedly petitioned Sylva, who in turn was said to have influenced the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Idu, to stop the gathering on security grounds.
Although the police initially ordered the meeting suspended, the directive was reversed the following morning.
Security operatives from the police and Joint Task Force (JTF) were reportedly deployed to the venue, but the town hall was locked up by youths believed to be workers of Tantita Security Services from neighbouring communities.
The action was allegedly carried out on the orders of the Community Development Committee Chairman, Chief Dautibi Okolai-Eric, described by locals as a close ally of Sylva.
To avoid violence, the chiefs relocated the meeting to the private residence of their chairman, High Chief Nathan Egba-Dienagha.
However, it was alleged that an order from Abuja later prompted the same youths to storm the residence and violently disperse the gathering.
A viral video circulating online shows suspected thugs leading an attack on Egba-Dienagha’s home, destroying properties and disrupting proceedings.
Community members expressed shock that despite the presence of security personnel in Okpoama during the incident, the chiefs were not adequately protected.
Some council members claimed they repeatedly called divisional police officers in Okpoama and Brass, as well as the local JTF commander, but received no assistance.
Following the attack, one of the alleged ringleaders, identified as Jarule, was arrested but later released.
Community sources accused the Regent of Okpoama, High Chief Paul Briggs Omubo-Suobagha, of ordering his release and of allegedly having a hand in the incident—a claim yet to be substantiated.
When contacted, Chairman of the Okpoama Kingdom Council of Chiefs, High Chief Egba-Dienagha, confirmed the attack on his residence but declined to name those responsible, saying he was awaiting the outcome of the police investigation.
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
