Hoodlums kill Bayelsa monarch, CDC chairman

Gunmen have killed the paramount ruler of Kalaba community in the Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Francis Kolubo, and the Community Development Committee Chairman, Oburo Samuel.

The monarch was said to have been abducted from his palace on Sunday to an unknown place where he was murdered, while the CDC chairman was dragged out of his house and killed in his backyard.

It was gathered that the late traditional ruler had been at loggerheads with some prominent indigenes over the move to conduct an election that would produce a successor to the throne based on a rotational agreement of every four years.

But all efforts to conduct the election after the community election committee had sold forms and screened two aspirants were allegedly frustrated by the deceased monarch, who also reportedly secured a court injunction and a state government order to stop the polls.

It was further gathered that an oil bunkering kingpin from the area had mobilised his group to set up a camp in the area early this year.

However, the move was resisted by the slain traditional ruler and the CDC chairman on the grounds that any attempt to tamper with crude oil pipelines in the area would hinder the community’s development.

A source said, “On Monday, the community woke up to the story that our paramount ruler was kidnapped by gunmen around 3am in his palace. We were all shocked and confused about what might have led to his abduction.

“That same day, the CDC chairman travelled to Yenagoa, the state capital, to officially report the incident to the police. While he was there, information came to some members of the community that the gang saw the CDC chairman in Yenagoa and they sent some gunmen to lay ambush at his house.

“When he drove into town, he was informed about this plot and advised not to enter the community, but he refused. He said no harm would come to him. As he drove into the community, a popular pastor stopped him along the road and pleaded with him to take a back road that would lead him out of the community.

“This time, he still refused to take the advice. Just as the gang had planned, the moment he got to his house around 7pm, some men armed with guns and machetes came out of hiding and dragged him to his backyard, where they murdered him.”

The hoodlums after the murder reportedly sent a message to the community that the monarch had also been killed and gave the location of the corpse.

A spokesman for the Bayelsa State Police Command, Asinim Butswat, confirmed the incident, adding that the corpse of the monarch was found at Ikarama community.

He noted that the police had launched an investigation into the killings. (The PUNCH)