From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Igbomotoru community in the Bomo Clan of Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa State, on Sunday, protested the invasion of the riverine community by military gunboats.
In a viral video, the community chiefs, women and youths, were seen protesting that the invasion was allegedly at the instance of an influential figure in the opposition party in the state.
According to them the politician masterminded the invasion to oppress them and also install one Friday Jonathan, who had been rejected as paramount ruler of the community.
They vowed to resist any attempt to impose an “unwanted stooge” as paramount ruler of the community.
A man, who claimed to be the deputy paramount ruler of the community, in the video, said the town had been peaceful and called on the federal and state governments to check the activities of the politician and his company.
An old woman, who also spoke in Izon language in the video, said the community was peaceful and warned against attempts to cause mayhem in the area, stressing that the plot to impose any ruler on the community would be resisted.
Caretaker committee chairman of the Southern Ijaw council area, Mr. Lucky Okodeh, had raised similar security concerns over the operations of an oil surveillance outfit in the area
The council chairman accused the firm of security breach, including the destruction of property and harassment.
He said staff of the company in September, while patrolling the rivers in gunboats, invaded Okpotuwari, a community in the area, where it allegedly caused mayhem, fear, and destruction of lives and property.
According to Okodeh, he and his team had to intervene to prevent a breakdown of law and order and restore peace in the community
“Elections have come and gone, and I have a mandate to protect lives and property in Southern Ijaw and as such politicians plotting political vendetta should be reminded that nobody, no matter how highly placed, will be allowed to toy with the peace existing in the local government area.
“We call once again for the security agencies to act swiftly and diligently to protect the lives and property in Southern Ijaw,” he said.
A source in the area who is aware of development said the people are just crying foul over nothing.
According to him the people are only angry that a surveillance contract that was given to someone from the community has been withdrawn and given to another person.