By Admin
Gunmen suspected to be involved in illegal crude oil bunkering have ambushed and killed the Community Development Committee (CDC) chairman of Igbomotoru One community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.
According to community members 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, while on his way to his brother’s house.
Igbomotoru, rich in crude oil deposit and notorious for ruthless militants and crude oil thieves, have had series of intra-communal clashes which has forced many natives to flee from the community.
A community leader who would not want his identity to be disclosed said the assailants gained access into the town through a forest at the back of the community “because we have military check-points along our waterway, making it impossible for them to come in speedboats.
“There was no hint that the gunmen involved in illegal activities 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, Chief Ayibaikie Aseimighen Ofongo, said “within 12 midnight and 2am 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 official statement to the public”
Also, the Press Secretary to the chairman, Southern Ijaw LGA, Dr. Ayibaetare Easterday, said he got wind of the news , and condemned the incident, stressing that such case puts the community and LGA in bad light 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 condemnable.”
