Bareley one month after an ambush on a convoy of 50 policemen on escort duty, gunmen suspected to be ex-militants have reportedly killed eight persons in Lorbia community of Southern Ijaw Local Government Council Area. That is the same Bayelsa community where 12 policemen lost their lives on April 6.
It was gathered that among those killed were five ex-militant youths who embraced amnesty under the leadership of Pastor Rebuen Wilson, a former militant leader. Wilson reportedly lost his 37-year old younger brother, Judah Benaibi Wilson, in the attack. Security sources have described the incident as a clash of rival gangs.
Contacted, Mr. Alex Akigbe Police spokesman for Bayelsa Command said that while the command has received a report of the shoot-out, he was unlikely to have a detailed briefing until tomorrow.
The Media Coordinator of the Joint Task Force in Niger Delta, Lt. Col. Onyeama Nwachukwu, also confirmed the incident but said that the casualty figures were still unclear.
“At about 2am on Saturday, there was an armed collision between two armed groups at Lorbia 1 in Southern Ijaw Area which led to the death of unspecified number of persons,” he said, adding that while the JTF was cordoning a search and rescue operation, the bodies of the dead were yet to be recovered from the waters.
The victims were allegedly lured into the creek and then shot dead by gunmen.
At the Yenagoa home of Wilson, sympathizers were seen discussing after his brother confirmed his loss.
Nwachukwu said the JTF has so far recovered items that include two Ak 47 rifles, One General Purpose Machine Gun, six AK47 magazines, and one speed boat.