Bayelsa state police has apprehended five people for plotting to attack the house of former President Goodluck Jonathan in Yenagoa.
The suspects- Asupha Emeka, 34; Ebipre Ebebi, 25; Samuel Joe, 27; Okilo Matthew, 25; and Timiere Matthew, 25- were arrested in an hotel in the Swali area of Yenagoa as they were formulating the strategy to use in attacking the former President’s home.
Punch reports that the plot to attack Jonathan’s house is part of the measures to create tension in the state ahead of Saturday’s supplementary poll.
Police spokesperson, Bayelsa State Command, Asinim Butswat, confirmed the arrest, noting that it was made possible with the help of a tip-off.
“On January 6, 2016, at about 1500hrs, based on a tip-off, detectives from the Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Vice unit stormed a hotel premises in Swali community, Yenagoa, and arrested five suspects.
“The suspects are Asupha Emeka, Ebipre Ebebi, Samuel Joe, Okilo Matthew and Timiere Matthew,” he said.
He added that the suspects were currently undergoing interrogation and that investigation was ongoing.
It is believed that the botched attack may have been orchestrated by chieftains of either the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress, in the state.
The leading candidates for the Bayelsa supplementary election- Seriake Dickson and Timipre Sylva- belong to PDP and APC respectively.