The Bayelsa State Police Command said it has arrested the suspected killers of the 50-year-old paramount ruler of Kalaba Community in Yenagoa Local Government Area, Odeinyefa Ogbolosingha, who is in-law to Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri.
The suspects also allegedly murdered the Chairman of the Community Development Committee of Kalaba Community, Kolibo Francis Amabelimo and Samuel Oburo in the community.
Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Mr Francis Idu, on Monday told journalists during an interactive session in Yenagoa that Gideon Atama, 32, Bethlehem Nwanlia, 49 and Clever Ovo, 33 allegedly committed the crime in 2022.
Idu disclosed that while one of the suspects identified as Perekebi Nwanlia was deceased, both Atama and Bethlehem Nwalia were still at large, but Clever Ovo was in police custody
According to him, Ovo has confessed that they were members of the notorious Endurance Amagbein gang whose leader, Endurance Amagbein, has since been declared wanted by the Nigerian Army over the alleged killing of 16 soldiers at Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State in 2024. Poisoned land, poisoned lives: Cancer epidemic in Bayelsa community linked to oil pollution Idu said Gideon Atama was arrested with a mobile phone while dressed in army camouflage uniform and well kitted like a soldier but “upon a close check on the phone, pictures of assorted rifles and voice notes of their previous operations were unraveled. They also went further to mention sponsors in the vandalisation of installations and facilities in the region.”
Also, the police attached to the Labrado Security house boat at Igbikiba in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area arrested a 20 year-old boat captain, Daniel Williams, involved in alleged cases of pipeline vandalisation.
Idu said Daniel Williams was allegedly involved in the recent attack on the 18-inch Tebidaba-Brass trunkline at Lascogbene Community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area operated by Oando.
Williams, who hails from Igbomotoro Community in Southern Ijaw was residing at Sangana Community in Brass Local Government Area.
Idu stated: “Daniel Williams was contacted by the suspect and wanted Endurance Amaegbein to convey and deliver pipeline vandalisation equipment such as two filing machines, five blades, five cutters, two machetes, five rechargeable headlamps, two Itel phones, two radio sets, foodstuffs and toiletries to enable him perpetrate his oil bunkering plans, despite the riot act being read to the security agencies operating in Niger Delta by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ahmed Tinubu. The suspect will be charged to court soon.”