The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ogbia Local Government Area

  • PDP accuses APC chiefs of mobilising 125 soldiers to constituency

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised the alarm ahead of the rerun election on Saturday that All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwarts have moved into Otuokpoti in Ogbia Local Government Area with over 125 soldiers.

    The State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Moses Cleopas, accused them of making surreptitious moves to perfect vote buying and voter intimidation ahead of the election.

    Cleopas called on the authorities of the Army to monitor the activities of its men on deployment in large numbers purportedly to protect APC politicians in the state.

    He urged the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, to be conscious of the allegations of murder and rights violation against troops of the Army during the Presidential/National Assembly elections of March 9, 2019.

    Cleopas said that a leader of the PDP, Mr. Seidougha Taribi and a Government House Photographer, Reginald Dei, were killed by soldiers while waiting for results of the election in Oweikorogha, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area òf the state.

    He added that while it was a cheering development the Army authorities had taken a decision to probe the soldiers’ complicity in the brazen acts of violence during the elections in Bayelsa, it was important that the ugly trend was not repeated.

    Cleopas also called on the Indepedent National Electoral Commission to ensure that its guidelines for the conduct of elections in the country are not violated by unscrupulous politicians.

    He said: “The PDP in Bayelsa cannot forget in hurry the complicity of soldiers in the brazen acts of violence, murder, kidnap of electoral officers which marred the elections in Nembe Bassambiri, Brass and part of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

    “The murder of our ward leader  Mr. Seidougha Taribi and the Government House Photographer, Reginald Dei, in Oweikorogha by soldiers is still fresh in our memory.

    “We therefore condemn without equivocation the militarisation of the election in Bayelsa.

    “We are using this medium to call on the Chief òf Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, to ensure that the brazen act of rights violation and intimidation by soldiers is not repeated in the rerun elections.

    “Bayelsans are making preparations to elect their representatives and not representatives of the Army and should be allowed to exercise their civil responsibility.

    “The PDP in Bayelsa is also calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission to guide its guidelines from violations by unscrupulous politicians in collusion with security agents.”

  • Army renovates Bayelsa school

    King George Lawson was skeptical when the 16 Brigade of the Nigerian Army was sited in Elebele, Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State. He was uncomfortable at the presence of the army in his neighbourhood.

    The Obanobhan 1 of Emeyal Clan stated reasons for his initial fears. “I used to know the army for guns and intimidation only. I had very negative impression about the army. So, I was afraid when they came to our neighbourhood. I thought bad things would begin to happen in our communities because of their presence.”

    But the king confessed recently that the leadership of the 16th Brigade changed his perception about the army. He said the brigade led by Brigadier-General Kelvin Aligbe made him and his communities fall in love with the army.

    “We have since changed our negative impressions. Since the coming of the army, we have only witnesses’ adequate security and infrastructural development. The army is the simplest security outfit. I told our governor recently about the good things we have witnessed in these communities because of the presence of the army,” he said.

    King George was right and he spoke out of experience as he stood with other stakeholders to receive 100 desks and sporting items including football kits donated by the army to the pupils of Community Comprehensive Secondary School, Elebele.

    The king also saw how General Aligbe renovated a dilapidated Elebele Primary School 2 in his neighborhood. The school had leaking roofs, cracked and washed off walls. But the army gave it a facelift by changing the roof and repainting the blocks. The school environment became  neater, cleaner and more conducive for learning.

    The Obanobhan further saw the grin faces of the benefitting pupils. Their physiognomical countenances spoke volumes. Many of them indicated interests to join the army after their studies. They viewed Aligbe and his soldiers as their role models.

    Besides, George, the Paramount Ruler of Elebele community, His Royal Highness, King Osene Osene extolled the virtues of the General Aligbe-led Brigade. “It is examplary”, he said. “ This brigade has proved me wrong. I thought the army only carried gun to intimidate people. We were afraid when the entered our community, but now we can’t do without them. They have performed beyond our expectations,” he said.

    With the performance of the brigade in the community, Osene said he would never talk about the army as a force of intimidation. He said he never thought that the army could think along the line of developing its host communities.

    He said it was unimaginable that the army was carrying out projects they hitherto believed could only come from the government.

    The Principal of the Comprehensive Secondary School, Elebele, Nanigha Asara, was also overwhelmed. She described the gesture as a big surprise from the army. She said the army showed due diligence by conducting need assessment of the school before making their donations.

    She said: “I learnt that they initially came during one of our brief breaks to carry out an inspection of the school infrastructure. I believe it was based on this they came to overwhelm us with these various gifts.

    “The action so far has gone a long way to show that they believe in education, which we know remains the bedrock of every nation. Their action also has shown that they believe in the future of every one of our students.

    “I am deeply shocked to the bone marrow by such magnanimity and kind gestures showcased by kind soldiers. Since they believe in us, we will prove their belief right by working very hard.”

    The Prefect (Boy) of the school, Osuma Mannesah, captured the feelings of his colleagues. He said: “ It is a great thing of joy and we are actually excited to see the desire and the zeal of the Nigerian Army to facilitate the learning process in this great school.

    “It will help to give the students more zeal to pursue their academic goals. We want to say thank you to the brigade and the brigade-general and we pray God to give them more grace.”

    Aligbe encouraged the students to take their studies seriously and aspire to be the best in the world. He advised them against crime and company and urged them not to engage in exam malpractices.

    Stating reasons for the gesture, he said: “We are here to make donation to facilitate learning. This is recognising the fact that education and sports and veritable means of bridging gaps that we have identified in the Niger Delta region.

    “With this gesture we hope we have inspired these young students to know that there are alternatives to violence and we expect this kind of interactions will subsequently engender the kind of calmness we want in all the communities in the Niger Delta region beginning with Elebele communities where 16th Brigade is domiciled.”

  • PDP accuses monarch of hijacking electoral materials in Bayelsa

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has accused a paramount ruler in Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, of hijacking electoral materials.

    The State Secretary of the PDP, Chief Godspower Keku, said in a statement that the traditional ruler abducted officials of INEC with electoral materials to his residence for thumb printing and production of concocted results.

    He said that the materials were hijacked by the paramount ruler and taken to his residence for brazen manipulation in favour òf a Candidate òf the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Keku said that the electoral fraud affected units 12, 13, 14 and 15 of Ologoghe , ward 04 , Ogbia constituency 2.

    Keku said, that it was most condemnable that a paramount ruler would subject the traditional institution to ridicule to pursue selfish individual interest to the detriment of the common good.

    He urged INEC to redeem its image by cancelling the fake results being produced by the traditional ruler for the units.

    He said; “The PDP wishes to draw the attention of INEC and the public to the snatching of the electoral materials meant for units 12, 13, 14 and 15 of Ologoghe , ward 04 , Ogbia constituency 2 by a Paramount ruler.

    “The INEC officials were abducted, ballot papers hijacked by the monarch to his house for thumb printing and production of illegal results.

    “We call for total cancellation of results of unit 12, 13, 14 and 15 from Ologoghe , ward 04 , Ogbia constituency 2, Bayelsa State as election did not take place in these units.

    “INEC as the electoral umpire would do well to reject the fake results and cancel the election to redeem its image.”

  • PDP stakeholders accuse Jonathan, Turnah, others of anti-party activities 

    Stakeholders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) under the auspices of the Ogbia PDP Renaissance (OPR) have accused some leaders of Ogbia Local Government Area including former President Goodluck Jonathan of working against the interest of the party ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    The stakeholders specifically accused a prominent traditional ruler, King A.J Turner and the lawmaker representing Ogbia Constituency 1 in the state House of Assembly, Mietama Obodor of anti-party activities.

    The Chairman of the group, Obhioru Mitanoni, in a statement on Friday said that Turner and Obodor were sponsoring candidates in other political parties to challenge PDP candidates.

    Mitanoni said following failures of their preferred aspirants to emerge victorious in the just-concluded PDP primaries, Turner and Obordor allegedly purchased nomination forms in other political parties for them.

    He further alleged that the Chairman of the State Environmental Sanitation Authority, Chief Robert Enogha and former Special Adviser to the Managing Director of the NDDC, George Turnah, were also involved in anti-party.

    He claimed that Turnah, who lost in his bid to clinch the PDP ticket for Ogbia Federal Constituency was backing one Cleric Awudum for the Ogbia Constituency 2 seat in the State Assembly.

    The statement said: “We are raising this alarm because of the emerging political development in Ogbia kingdom which is very disturbing. We want everyone to know that some people who call themselves leaders are working against our collective interest as a party.

    “We want our people to know that the likes of King A.J Turner, Hon. Mieteme Obodo, Chief Robert Enogha Ayalla and Barr. George Turnah are all guilty of anti-party activities. These men bought forms for those who lost the PDP primaries to go to other parties to contest against our candidates.

    “We are aware that for George Turnah the man he is sponsoring Cleric Awudum in Accord Party has not even resigned his appointment in the Niger Delta University. Everything is being done to ensure he wins the Ogbia constituency two seats. But we are ready for them”.

    Mitanoni lambasted Jonathan for failing to call some of the leaders, who are his known allies, to order, adding that the ex-president was promoting political divisions in Ogbia.

    He said Jonathan was the one who encouraged Chief Nimi Barigha-Amange to contest the Bayelsa East senatorial seat on the platform of the ADC, having lost the PDP ticket to Blessing Ipigansin.

    He wondered why the former President would conspire against a party that brought him to the limelight.

    He said the group decided to make a public statement and put the leadership of the party on notice to prevail on leaders to retrace their steps.

    He described the leaders as disgruntled and blamed them for the gross underdevelopment of Ogbia.

    In a swift reaction, Enogha said he was shocked at the extent some desperate and disgruntled element would go just to score cheap political points.

    Enogha described the statement signed by Mitanoni as the height of sycophancy and lies.

    He wondered why a founding member of the PDP and loyal supporters of the Restoration team of Governor Seriake Dickson would be dragged into such an unthinkable act adding that he was totally committed to the party and its leadership.

    Also, George Turnah described the claims as false and cheap allegations.

    He further referred to the group behind the allegations as faceless but said he remained committed and loyal to the PDP despite contesting and losing the party’s ticket for the House of Representatives.

    Turnah said he was the most persecuted member of the PDP by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari adding that he should have been the one complaining against the process that led to the PDP primary.

    He, however, assured persons behind the allegations that he and his team would support them to win the forthcoming poll.

     

  • IYC commends Seiyefa for releasing DSS detainees

    The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide Tuesday applauded the Director-General of the Department of State Security (DSS), Mathew Seiyefa, for making good his promise to review cases and release detainees held in the agency without trials.

    IYC also called on the Presidency to confirm the appointment of Seiyefa and make him the substantive head of the DSS.

    The Nation reported exclusively that the DSS commenced a process of granting freedom to suspects detained for some years without trials in its facilities in Abuja.

    Seven of the suspects, who were arrested in 2016 in Bayelsa State, were brought to Yenagoa at the weekend.

    They were brought from the DSS Headquarters in Abuja to the office of the DSS in Yenagoa and released to their family members and friends, who milled around the agency’s office.

    Some of the suspects were seen shedding tears of joy in the warm embrace of their friends when they finally marched out of the DSS facility.

    The suspects looked unkempt with overgrown bears, rough skin and dirty clothes.

    One of them, who identified himself as Clinton Ohaigbofa, confirmed that suspects held without trial were being massively released across the country.

    Clinton, who hails from Ebedebiri in Ogbia Local Government Area, attributed the development to the disposition of the new DSS boss.

    He said they were held in underground cells in Abuja for over two years, adding that they untold hardship.

    The  IYC in a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Alfred Kemepado, expressed satisfaction and comfort with the recent strides of Seifa describing him as a true democrat.

    Kemepado said the recent release of persons detained in the custody of the DSS without trial gave hope and value to democracy.

    He, however, urged Seifa to look into high profile cases detainees like that of El-zazaky, the leader of the Shiites in Nigeria and dispense fairness to all.

    He said: “IYC has spoken to colleagues from other ethnic nationalities and most have expressed their confidence that Mr. Seiyefa will tackle the humongous security challenges facing Nigeria today from Boko Haram to the herdsmen palava and to recent activities that threatens our democracy”.

    Kemepado thanked President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Osibanjo for considering a competent son of the South of Nigeria to head the DSS.

    “This is positively contrary to our earlier beliefs that the President disrespected us. We want to appeal to President Buhari to confirm Seifa’s appointment as we are willing to work with him and others to sustain the peace in Nigeria and in the Niger Delta especially.

    “We call on all groups to continue to support Seiyefa with information and prayers for the overall good of all. The IYC appeals to Seiyefa not to yield to the antics of politicians but to uphold the values of his service and also uphold our growing democracy,” he said.

  • I carried blocks to pay my school fees, says Diette-Spiff’s wife 

    The Queen of Brass Kingdom in Bayelsa State, Her Majesty, Dr. Josephine Diette-Spiff at the weekend advocated quality education for the girl child saying she did menial jobs, including carrying blocks at building sites to pay her school fees.

    The wife of King Alfred Diette-Spiff, who spoke while delivering a goodwill message at Elebele in Ogbia Local Government Area, called on female children not to give up in their desire to be educated and contribute to societal development.

    The queen, who is the Chairperson, Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Wives Association (BSTRWA) and President, Royal Queens of the Niger Delta Initiative (RQNDI) was a guest of a symposium tagged, educate a woman, educate a nation, organised by the Ogbia Brotherhood Women Wing (OBWW).

    While donating to the Ogbia Girl Child Education Trust Fund created for scholarships by the OBWW, she described the initiative as a victory for the Ogbia female children.

    She passionately appealed to the organisers of the programme to adopt vigilance and vision by following up the scholarship beneficiaries to achieve the primary objective of the initiative.

    She said females like their male counterparts have the right to education, skill acquisition and right to make choices and actualise a dream.

    She insisted that adding that encouraging female education was crucial to nation building.

    Narrating how she overcame her poor background, she said: “By the grace of God, I have been able to give quality educational opportunities and experience which has transformed and empowered youths to reach their potentials. This does give me the understanding and appreciation of the girl child education.

    “As a child growing up in the Niger Delta, I was not fortunate to have my education paid for by my parents who were of humble background. But I didn’t give up my passion for education instead I sought for a job. So I ended up as  mason assistant carrying sand and blocks in a building site in Benin City.

    “So no one should give up their passion, work at it and pray always; the sky is your limit to triumph. As you are witnesses today, I am a Lawyer with a Doctorate in Business Administration and most importantly the wife of a King”.

    Addressing the organisers of the scholarship funds, she added: “Our victory today in educating the girl child should not stop in the present because it’s no guarantee of our victory tomorrow. You cannot afford to lower the standards that you have set for yourselves as an organization.

    “You cannot be complacent. It is important that you follow up on the awardees of this trust fund to deliver on your promise of providing quality education for the Oghia girl child”.

    Also speaking, the Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Ayebemi Ibuteme Spiff said that compulsory girl child education would address many other critical issues like child and maternal mortality among others.

    She said one of the major reasons militating against the girl child education poverty, the culture of the Nigerian people and certain aspects of the religion.

    She said: “With about 60% of Nigerians living in poverty, families are forced to make very difficult choices. One of such choices is to sacrifice the education of some of their children for the education of one who will later carry the other family members to the promise land. Needless to say that the education of the girl child is almost always sacrificed for that of the boy child”.

     

  • We didn’t endorse Atiku, says Bayelsa Ohaneze

    The leadership of Ohanaeze Ndiigbo in Bayelsa State at the weekend said there was no time it endorsed the presidential ambition of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who was recently in the state to seek support.

    The socio-cultural group said it was against its objectives to delve into partisan politics and described the alleged endorsement as disgraceful and unfortunate.

    The Caretaker Chairman of the group in Bayelsa, Chief Nlem Mark, who spoke during a reconciliatory meeting with local chapters of Ohaneze in Ogbia Local Government Area, said those within their group who purportedly received Abubakar during his visit were impostors and political jobbers.

     He said they went to see Abubakar for money adding that the political outing was organised by suspended and discredited members led by Chief Chinedu Amaku.

    In a communiqué issued after the meeting signed by Mark and Chief Chinedu Arthur-Ugwa, Leader of Ohanaeze Youth Wing in Bayelsa, the group appealed to the Bayelsa Government to severe links with the impostors.

    The group said the suspended members were boasting that they were enjoying the protection of the Secretary to Bayelsa Government (SSG) and were working to sabotage the efforts of Ohanaeze national executive.

     The communique read in part:  “The claim that the secretary to Bayelsa Government was the force behind their actions is regrettable; if it is true, it leaves us to assume that they were behind the disunity which our elders are working to end.

    “The President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Nnia Nwodo had urged the state government to work in harmony with the caretaker committee pending elections.

    “We therefore wonder why some appointees of the governor chose to align with suspended members to sabotage the Nwodo-led leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

     “We therefore urge the Bayelsa government to intervene by cautioning their appointees before their actions would lead to breach of the existing peace.”

     The group lamented that the lingering leadership crisis was retarding the progress of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Bayelsa and delaying the release of a bus donated to the group by the state government.

     It declared its support for the Bayelsa government in making the state a safer and better place to live. 

  • Gunmen kidnap two NDDC contractors in Bayelsa

    Gunmen kidnap two NDDC contractors in Bayelsa

    Suspected Gunmen on Tuesday kidnapped two contractors working on one of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) projects in Otuogiri Community, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

    Confirming the incident, Spokesman of the Bayelsa Police Command, DSP Asinim Butswat, said in Yenagoa that police had arrested the accomplice and that he was undergoing interrogation.

    Lucky Moses, one of the Community Development Committee (CDC) executives in the community, told our reporter that the gunmen stormed the area in the early hours of Tuesday.

    “The gunmen came and began to exchange gun fire with soldiers before whisking away their targets.

    “The victims were two but one was released on the spot, while the other was whisked into a waiting speed boat which zoomed off to an unknown destination.

    “The community caught the accomplice who confessed that he gave information to the abductors; the accomplice has been handed over to security operatives,” Moses said.

    NAN

  • How Oloibiri got its groove back

    How Oloibiri got its groove back

    The first Nigerian commercial oil well in Oloibiri, a community in Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, was once likened to a proverbial old and feeble woman abandoned by her ungrateful children.

    During her illustrious period, she was a rallying point for her children. In her kitchen, they ate to their full. They sucked her protruding breasts for nutrients passing it along from one mouth to another. She was indeed, a source and foundation of life, joy and prosperity for the children. Suddenly, at her old age, she was deserted, abandoned and despised by those persons she clothed, sheltered and fed.

    So, was Oloibiri Oil Well 1. Tucked into development-deficient Otuabagi community, the oil well gave Nigeria a global appeal. It was the reason the country gained her oil-producing status in 1956 when the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) found crude oil in commercial quantity there and erected the Christmas Tree.

    But like the proverbial woman, the oil well was abandoned after it was sucked dry by the government. Like a thoroughly-sucked sachet water, the well was thrown away. The Christmas tree was overtaken by shrubs, weeds and vegetation. Oloibiri, the host community of the oil well 1, was left to lick its wounds.

    The Nigerian Army has, however, changed the narrative. The army remembered Oloibbiri recently. Thanks to the Operation Crocodile Smile II. As part of the civil-military relations built into the exercise, officers and troops of the army renovated the site of the Christmas tree and gave it its pride of place as a tourist haven.

    The 16th Brigade of the army with headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, worked on the site. The surroundings was landscaped, designed with interlocking stones and carved with caves to create beautiful sight.

    The Christmas tree is now covered with an attractive roof. In fact, the environment, which was hitherto an eyesore, has been transformed into a centre of attraction. Oloibiri Oil Well 1 has become a real monument, deserving of tourism.

    Indeed, residents of Oloibiri community were excited over the development. Thy poured encomiums on the army for remembering them. They never knew that the Operation Crocodile Smile II could have permanent positive effect on their community.

    The army opened the oil well to tourists the day it rounded off its military operation. It was a day the Oloibiri would not forget in a hurry. For the first time after many years, convoy of exotic cars drove to their community. The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai and the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd) and traditional rulers were among the dignitaries that found their way to Oloibiri.

    The elated Commander, 16th Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Kelvin Aligbe, in his welcome address  said the army brought its civil-military exercise to Oloibiri to highlight the significance of the oil well. He said the army took permission from the Ministry of Tourism before renovating and cleaning the site.

    He said: “What we are doing today, therefore, is just to add a bit of tourist value to this iconic monument. We have come to savour the beautiful environment that we have found ourselves.

    “We believe that whatever we are doing here today would have sufficiently agitated the minds of the tourism enthusiasts across the country to come to this place, explore the unique potential of this place and make it a place for global recognition”.

    Buratai in is remarks, described the gesture as one of the advantages of a military operation. He said the operation Crocodile Smile II was launched to be conducted across the Niger Delta and Southwest from October 7 to 28.

    The Army chief, who was represented by the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Enobong Udoh. He highlighted the easing for military operations across the country.

    He said:  “The Nigerian Army in consonance with the vision of the current chief of army staff to have a professionally responsive Nigerian army in the discharge of its constitutional roles continue to conduct operations and training exercises in order to position itself to be able to respond professionally to the threats that we have across the country.

    “As we know the threats are so many, kidnapping, cultism and militancy. Here in the Niger Delta we have other ones like illegal oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft and the rest. So Nigerian army continues to conduct this operation.

    “Already we have had operations  in the Northwest; we have had the popular Operation Egwueke, Python Dance and then operation crocodile smile II.

    “As I said all these operation are conducted to position the Nigerian army to be able to combat the threats that face our nation so that we can have a conducive environment for business activities to take place and for law-abiding citizens to go about their duties without hindrances”.

    Buratai explained that during such operations, the army tried to have closer relationships with the people. He said the army usually identified with the people through medical and education outreaches as well as environmental sanitation arrangements.

    He said: “The 16 Brigade decided to rehabilitate the Oloibiri Oil Well 1 as part of their civic activities so that it can be positioned to regain its status as a tourist attraction which it is.

    “I want to ask the Commander 16 Brigade to continue to dominate this place in terms of patrol, security so that the bad boys and criminals can be kept away from here and this place can further be developed to assume its status as a foremost iconic tourist attraction in the nation”.

    On his part, the deputy governor, a retired naval officer, said military operations and civic obligations formed part of his lectures at the military staff college. He expressed delight that the theories were being translated into practical realities.

    He, however, lamented that people were misinterpreting the roles of he military. He insisted that the military had not been given adequate attention it deserved and called on the people to support their army. Jonah called on the Ogbia council authority to preserve the oil well and upgrade it periodically.

    Giving a brief history of the oil well, the representative of the Tourism Ministry, Mr. Solomon Diepriye, said: “Oloibiri oil well is sitting here in otuabagi community in ogbia local government of Bayelsa state. It is called oloibiri oil well because as at the time in 1956, otuabagi was under the oloibiri district hence the name oloibiri oil well1.

    “The history of oloibiri oil well cannot be complete without a brief history of Shell. Shell as we know it today SPDC was then called Shell De Archy and they were given the first license to explore oil in Nigeria on the 4th November1938.

    “There had been other companies searching for oil in Nigeria but the

  • NSCDC operative, armed robber die in Bayelsa gun battle

    NSCDC operative, armed robber die in Bayelsa gun battle

    An operative of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) attached to the Bayelsa State command and an armed robber were, Wednesday, killed in a gun battle.

    It was gathered that a gang of armed robbers operating in Ogbia Local Government Area laid an ambush for a patrol van of the operatives along Kolo Creek area of the council.

    The armed robbers reportedly hid in the ambush after first attacking a police checkpoint along the road and disarming policemen on duty at about 12:24am.

    A security source who spoke in confidence said the armed robbers caught the policemen off guard and compelled them to surrender their weapons.

    He said the robbers carted away about three Ak47 riffles and several rounds of ammunition.

    He said: “When they escaped from the scene, they sighted a security patrol van man by operatives of the NSCDC and hid in the bush. When the van approached, they opened fire on it killing one of the civil defenders”.

    But he said the operatives fired back and gunned down one of the armed robbers while others later escaped.

    It was gathered that the remains of one the slain armed robber with his pump action rifle were recovered by the personnel and brought to NSCDC headquarters in Yenagoa.

    They reportedly handed over to the stage Commandant of NSCDC, Mr. Desmond Agu.

    When contacted, Agu confirmed that armed robbers laid ambush for a patrol van of the corps and killed one of the operatives.

    He, however, praised his men for fighting back and overpowering them with their superior gunfire resulting in the killing of one of the robbers.

    Agu, however, said he was not aware of the attack on a police checkpoint adding that he had handed over the riffle and the corpse of hoodlum to the state’s police command.