SAN FRANCISCO, August 18, (THEWILL) – The Bayelsa state governor, Seriake Dickson, on Friday disclosed that the sporadic shootings by unknown armed men at the All Progressives Congress, APC, secretariat in the state despite heavy security presence speaks volume of the activities of the opposition party in the state.
Stray bullets from some hired thugs had earlier in the day killed two persons at the secretariat where the gunmen attempted to disrupt the inauguration of the new Acting Chairman of the party, Mr. Joseph Fafi.
An APC member from Sagbama Local Government Area and a hawker were hit by flying bullets during the exchange of gunfire between security operatives and the armed thugs. In the ensuing confusion, several others sustained injuries while trying to jump the barb wired fence of the secretariat.
Trouble started at about 10am when armed thugs, disguised as party protesters, beat the security mounted some distance away from the secretariat and headed straight to the venue. Attempts to stop the armed invaders from accessing the complex by security operatives, following an alarm raised by some party members, led to the fracas.
Stressing that the violence is unfortunate, regrettable and totally unacceptable, Dickson, through his Senior Special Assistant on Politics, Comrade Miriki Ebikibina, said, “the pandemonium caused is regrettable because it is coming a day after the meeting of the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo with the state governors and security officers on hate speeches and security challenges faced by states.
“It is not only most unfortunate, regrettable and totally unaccepted but speaks volume of a party activities in the state.
“The APC activities in Bayelsa are characterized with violence, thereby threatening and heightened the relatively peace and calm, put in place by the State Government.
“The Acting President and the leadership of the APC, should call their party members to order and respect the right to peace and freedom of movement of the defenceless citizens of the state, who are going about their legitimate business.”
