Angry Bayelsa Youths threaten reprisal attack over herdsmen killing

Angry youths of Okumoni Community, Okordia clan, in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, have threatened a reprisal attack as self-defence if the killings of innocent indigenes in the state continued.

Congress learnt that two chiefs from Zarama and Okumoni communities both in the Okordia clan were allegedly murdered while several others were injured in a suspected herdsmen attack a week ago.

The Ijaw Youths Council, IYC, Chairman, Okordia clan, Comrade Raymond Akadumeme, said they can no longer watch herdsmen killing their people, while the security operatives keep mute, narrating that it is unacceptable, and they can’t continue living in silence.

“Enough is enough, we will have to protect ourselves violently. Our people were fishing in lake Sam, and they brought their cows to graze where we have a farmland, attempt to refrain them from destroying our cassava farm led to the killing of our deputy paramount ruler,” he said.

“We call on the government to take every necessary action to nip this in the bud, we can’t be slaves in our own community, just because they were told to move their cows away from our farmland, they resorted to killings, we won’t accept it anymore.

“They were told to move their cows away from the land, and they refused, while we insisted, they went straight and brought a gun and shot at the deceased with two other persons. By the time other people ran into the community to raise alarm, they ran away while we met the injured persons and the deceased on the floor, bleeding.

“We had to move those injured to the hospital while the deceased was deposited in the morgue. We have informed the necessary authorities of the issue.”

Reacting to the incident, the Bayelsa State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Asinim Butswat, said, “On 20th March 2023, One Chief Bob Wilson 49 years was allegedly killed by suspected herdsmen at Okumoni forest, Okordia.

“Police detectives have visited the scene and evacuated the corpse to the mortuary for autopsy. Investigation is ongoing.”