Yenagoa—Engr. Ayerite Moses, a factional youth president of Opu-Nembe Kingdom in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, has raised alarm over a reported destruction of his property at his residence in Nembe-Bassambiri.
He alleged that youths loyal to a pipeline surveillance contractor, Kojo Sam, shielded by personnel of the Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) stationed in the community had ransacked and destroyed properties in his house.
The youth leader made this known via a chat with our reporter on Tuesday in Yenagoa.
Moses recalled that on the 15th of February 2023, gunmen suspected to be Kojo’s followers invaded the community, killing one Baite Agala and Queen Kieriseiye in his house as well as one Marlin Walter.
“Thereafter, some aggrieved family members and friends of those who were killed destroyed the houses of Kojo Sam and others who were involved in the attack.
“The SWAT team came with these persons with a petition that we in the town had committed arson. So they came with them as pointers and invaded the town, killed some persons and also arrested others.
“Now they are committing the same arson and destroying my properties and that of others. I want the whole world to know the evil they are perpetrating in the town,” Moses said.
He wondered why youths would be allegedly allowed to destroy the properties of law-abiding citizens in a community that the police are occupying to forestall peace.
Moses further accused the SWAT team of aiding the illegal oil bunkering activities reportedly carried out in the community, noting that “most of the vandalised houses belong to staff of Amotoi Global Services Limited who have recently been destroying the illegal refineries in the community.”
When contacted, a spokesperson for Kojo, Mr. Theophilus Iruo, described the allegations as a false alarm, stating that the “house of Ayerite Moses was never ransacked or his properties destroyed.”
While insisting that the allegations of compromise levelled against the SWAT team are unfounded, Iruo also argued that the police team is instrumental to the “peace being experienced” in the community.
Meanwhile, attempts to hear from the SWAT team proved abortive while filing this report.
Mangrovepen.ng recalls that the Bayelsa State Government in August 2023 inaugurated a six-member Judicial Panel of Enquiry led by a former Chief Judge of the state, Justice Margaret Akpomiemie (rtd) to look into the February 15 violence.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, on Saturday, 20th January 2024, Governor Douye Diri while receiving the report of the panel reiterated the government’s suspension of chiefs and the youth body in the community.
Diri noted that the crisis bedevilling the community was three-pronged but was more political than economic or traditional.
He stressed that no society can develop in an atmosphere of continuous violence and brigandage.
The governor also called on the Inspector General of Police to redeploy the special forces from the community to restore peace.
In his words: “l call on the Inspector-General of Police to reconsider and ensure the posting of those special forces to very troubled states where lives are lost daily so that rather than being an occupying force in Nembe-Bassambiri, they will be of more help to Nigeria.”
The governor set up a five-man committee to review the report of the panel within two weeks and to advise him on its implementation.
The review committee is headed by Secretary to the State Government, Alabo Gideon Ekeuwei with the Acting Chief of Staff, Dr. Peter Akpe, the Head of Service, Mrs. Biobelemoye Charles-Onyeama and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Legal Matters, Alabo Ozubide as members.
