Armed policemen have reportedly stormed Amarata community, a suburb of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital, in a reprisal attack after reports that a police officer was killed in the area on Monday night.
Residents of the community, which is notorious for cult rivalries and other social vices, were thrown into disarray on Tuesday morning when the armed security operatives carried out the raid, shooting indiscriminately and breaking into homes.
TheFact Daily reports that the Police Public Relations Officer of the Bayelsa State Command, Mr. Musa Mohammed, confirmed the killing of the officer, identified as Oboh Goodluck, adding that investigation is ongoing to arrest the suspected killers.
Residents alleged that several people were forcefully arrested during the operation.
According to one of the residents who spoke under the condition of anonymity, two people, a businessman whose wife works in the bank, and another young man who was with Bayelsa park,were forcefully taken away from the mini estate where he resides.
“The police broke into houses, and men and women were taken into custody by force”, he said.
Other eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as families fled their homes to escape the gunfire. They recounted how windows were shattered during the raid, adding that the community now lives in fear of renewed violence.
Community leaders have appealed to both residents and security operatives to exercise restraint, warning that any further escalation could trigger a broader breakdown of law and order in Yenagoa, the state capital.
