Three Killed As PDP Factions Clash In Bayelsa

The campaign train of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Saturday’s governorship elections in Bayelsa State, Chief Seriake Dickson,  yesterday in Oporoma, the headquarters of Southern Ijaw Local Government witnessed a sad incident following  a bloody clash between rival groups which left  three persons dead while several others sustained serious injuries.

The fight was between the supporters of the council chairman, Mr Tiwe Oruyemie and his deputy, Felix Ayah.

Trouble started when Dickson’s protocol team arrived the venue of the campaign and recognised  the council chairman’s faction as legitimate representatives of the area. This, however, sparked off trouble as supporters of the deputy chairman voiced  their protest and accused the chairman of being anti- Dickson.

During the mayhem in which dangerous weapons such as knives, axe and stones were freely used, three persons were killed on the spot, including a man identified as the Supervisory Councillor for Agriculture, Mr Elvis Iyah.

However, a combined team of security agents quickly reinforced and calmed the situation after about 30 minutes, while some people suspected to have masterminded the incident were arrested..

The State police command confirmed the incident, saying, they were investigating the incident. A senior police officer who spoke to newsmen on condition of anonymity confirmed that some people had been arrested but declined comments on the number of casualties.

About one hour after the incident, Dickson and the Acting Governor of the State, Chief Nestor Binabo arrived the scene,. and addressed the people on his restoration agenda for the state.

He regretted the incident, saying, the law would take its course, as he believed in the sanctity of human lives.

The Tide gathered that while the council chairman who is also the state  Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) chairman, is believed to have sympathy for former Governor Timipre Sylva, his deputy is rooting for Dickson, a situation that has caused so much acrimony in the council in recent times.

Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (2nd left) with Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru (left), Rev. Father Steve Deedua (3rd left) and Consultants from Arcus Gibb, checking the route of the new M12 beltway, a multi-billion naira highway to connect Port Harcourt city to the Airport, that the Amaechi administration is about to commence, in Port Harcourt, yesterday.