July 15, (THEWILL) — Gunmen suspected to be involved in illegal crude oil bunkering, on Sunday night, reportedly ambushed and killed the Community Development Committee (CDC) chairman of Igbomotoru 1 community in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
According to community sources who confirmed the incident to newsmen, the CDC chairman, Mr Goodnews Manash, was ambushed behind the community’s school compound about 10:30 pm, Sunday night, on his way to his brother’s house.
Igbomotoru, rich in crude oil deposits and famous for ruthless militants and crude oil thieves, have had a series of intra-communal clashes which have forced many indigenes to seek exile.
A community leader, who pleaded anonymity, said that the assailants gained access to the town through a forest at the back of the community “because we have military checkpoints along our waterway, making it impossible for them to come in speedboats.
“There was no hint that the gunmen involved in illegal activities, unchallenged, especially crude oil bunkering, would strike.
“They had been driven out of the community by the Nigerian Army. And angered by that, they have succeeded in killing the CDC chairman, who is working hard to restore peace in our community.”
Confirming the incident, the paramount ruler of the community, HRH Ayibaikie Aseimighen Ofongo, said, “Within 12 midnight and 2 am Sunday, somebody from the community called to inform me that gunmen have abducted the CDC chairman of our community.
“It was not until daybreak that I got concrete information that the CDC chairman was actually assassinated in the community. I can confirm that he is dead, but we intend to have meetings at the community level before we issue an office statement to the public”
Also, the Press Secretary to the chairman, Southern Ijaw LGA, Dr Ayibaetare Easterday, said that he heard the news Sunday morning, stressing that such a case puts the community and LGA in a bad reputation before the international community.
He said, “The story is true, but he was not killed in his house. He was killed close to another person’s compound, whom he was going to visit. It is an unfortunate incident, and we pray that this kind of thing does not happen again.
“We are all brothers and sisters, so if we offend one another in the community, we should exercise tolerance and make peace. The incident is not befitting of who we are, and it is condemnable.”
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
