One Feared Dead: Clandestine Killings May Reign, As Bayelsa Rioting Communities Trade Accusations

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa.

 At least one person was reported to have been feared dead, scores apprehended and others hospitalised in a renewed inter-communal clashes involving Otuasega and Yibama(Oruma) communities of Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa state.

Reports reaching our sources has it that the clashes which began as a rivalry cult fracas about a week ago has since metamorphosed into battle between the two neighbouring communities,leading to the death of one Mr Stanley Owupele,native of Yibama.

Speaking with our sources Tuesday in an interview at Yibama, their paramount ruler,(Amayinaowei) His Royal Highness, (Pere) Wapaebiama Amakiri (Tughu VII) stated that while it is still surprising that upon the close affinities between the two communities the most recent clashes still occurred, he alleged that more worrisome and barbaric is that Otuasega community took laws into there hands by murdering one of his subjects.

” You see some people take laws into their hands.Yibama and Otuasega  inter-marry,we attended the same schools together and even share common boundaries together,but surprisingly,initially we all  thought it was a cult fight involving members of rival cult groups from either communities, but not until one Mr Goodluck Teki,a native of this community escaped being killed by Otuasega people on the second of January,2020 by whiskers our boys would not have made reprisal attacks on properties of Otuasega people close to the borders of the two communities.It was in the event of the attack which I am very sure no Yibama indigine was armed that the Otuasega people shot dead one native of Yibama in cold blood”.He said.

Relaying their plight to our correspondent in Otuasega,the community Development committee,CDC chairman,Mr Gbanibebi Igbuasi accused the Yibama community of having committed heinous crimes against his community, alleging that but for the premeditated late night attacks the Yibama people launched on the Otuasega community the fracas would not have been aggravated to the worrisome and appalling situation.

He however denied the allegations of Murder levelled against his community by his opponents,saying they had only heard about the lose of life of the said Yibama indigine like any other hearer outside,emphasising that no member of his community took fire arms to the community security guard they carried out in the cause of the fracas.

The Otuasega CDC helmsman who bared his mind on previous riots between the duo communities regretted that in 2014 one Mr Michael Simeon,an indigene of his community was murdered in cold blood by the Yibama people.

Meanwhile against the backdrop of the alleged destruction of properties belonging to the Otuasega community by the Yibama people, the Yibama Royal father has demanded for the fishing out and arrest of the killers of their son,Stanley Owupele,saying in 2014 when through similar clashes one Mr Christian Dauware, a native of his community murdered the said Mr Simeon Yibama under his leadership brought out his killer for trial.

The Paramount ruler said upon finding Mr Dauware guilty of Murder, an Ogbia High court in suit no.OHC/53/2014 sentenced him to death by hanging in 2018, alleging also that in 2015 the Otuasega community made reprisal attacks on his people and murdered one Mr Owede Igbomgbo in cold blood at Otuasega community.

Condemning the incessant riots between the two sister communities, Traditional Ruler of Obhan Emeyal ( Emeyal Clan) of Ogbia Local Government Area under whose the two warring communities  are located, His Royal Majesty, King George Lawson cautioned against such occurrences.

King Lawson warned that rather than go into riots,communities of the clan should immediately seek for his intervention and that of the police to contain the situation,stressing that the incidences of such magnitude have lately become too prominent between the two bordering communities.

The Clan Monarch mentioned that hhee has in consultation with all the paramount rulers of all the communities of the clan held reconciliatory meetings with the  two affected communities so as to find lasting solutions to the problems.

In a bid to ensuring law and order in the area the Nigerian Police force,Bayelsa State command through its public relations Officer, DSP.Asinim Buttswap has confirmed the arrest of some indigines of both warring communities. Though the police did not give our sources the number of persons arrested, the Traditional ruler of the Clan in an interview with Journalists Tuesday said about 17 people were arrested at Otuasega while 3 were arrested at Yibama.He said his is working out modalities to secure them on bail while the problems would be resolved soonest.