Bayelsa: ‘Southern Ijaw Invaded By Armed Men’, According To PDP In Bayelsa State

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has claimed that armed militants have stormed into the Peremabiri community in Southern Ijaw, according to Punch newspaper.

The Southern Ijaw Local Government Area (LGA) is among the LGAs where

the supplementary gubernatorial elections for Bayelsa State are to take place on January, 9th.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Director for Publicity for the Restoration Campaign Organisation of PDP, Mr. Jonathan Obuebite, alleged that the six heavily armed gunboats invaded the community.

The PDP has also claimed that the armed men were assisted by local security personnel. Mr. Obuebite noted that the attack comes right before election materials were supposed to be distributed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Southern Ijaw area.

During a radio interview in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State, the PDP official reminded audience members that Governor Seriake Dickson, the PDP candidate, warned the public about possible violence in Southern Ijaw.

“I want to remind the public that Governor Dickson only yesterday [Monday] while addressing a press conference, drew the attention of the public to a plot by the opposition [All Progressives Congress (APC)] to rig the rerun election in Southern Ijaw by further unleashing violence and mayhem.

“The attack on Peremabiri by militants has vindicated our position as a party,” Mr. Obuebite said.

Mr. Obuebite called upon the security services to restore order to Southern Ijaw. He also reminded the residents of the Peremabiri that they could call PDP officials via a hotline made public on Monday.