Posted by From Willie Etim (Yenagoa) on
Barely 48 hours after a House of Assembly candidate was killed on the streets of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, and hours to the governorship and House of Assembly elections, three persons were yesterday shot dead in Bayelsa State by unknown gunmen.
Barely 48 hours after a House of Assembly candidate was killed on the streets of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, and hours to the governorship and House of Assembly elections, three persons were yesterday shot dead in Bayelsa State by unknown gunmen.
The incident, which occurred at about 5.55pm off the Nikton Hotel Road, some distance from the private residence of the state governor Dr. Goodluck Jonathan in Yenagoa, caused pandemonium in the Kpansia metropolis of the state capital.
The deceased persons all from Kema Town in the Brass Council of the state, were identified as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairmanship candidate for Brass Council area, a former councilor in the council area, Ebimie Sunny Igoli; Christian Umukoro and a PDP woman leader in the area, Ebi Odumo.
They were reportedly shot by unknown gunmen on motorcycles who ambushed their vehicle, a Mercedes Benz 190 as they were about entering the premises of Yousou Amakanyo, a Member of the Strate House of Assembly. Igoli, died immediately.
The two other persons accompanying him and the driver were injured and later died at the Federal Medical Centre in Yenagoa to where they were rushed to.
A nephew of the Igoli Mr. Ebitimi Kalama who confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the State CID premises in Yenagoa yesterday evening said his uncle was killed along with the other persons by unknown gunmen as they were about visiting the home of the member representing their constituency to fine-tune their movement during today's elections.
According to him, his brother's associates lost their lives at the Federal Medical Centre where doctors battled in vain to save their saves their lives.
Contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Iniobong Ibokette (DSP) could not confirm the incident even though one of the bodies of the deceased was lying at the state CID premises some distance away from his office.
On Thursday night, another party chieftain, Okolai Igo also from Brass Council was shot dead by unknown gunmen at a popular eatery in the Ovom axis of Yenagoa, at about 10.55 a.m.
Meanwhile, most residents confined themselves to their houses last night in Yenagoa, the state capital and environs.
The killings occurred a few hours after the state Commissioner of Police declared that his command was battle-ready for the elections