Bayelsa Polls: Injured Monarch to be flown abroad, police to prosecute electoral offenders
Felix Okoye
The traditional ruler of Peremabiri community, Chief Progress Never Die, who was shot at close range by the suspected militant group led by Eris Paul a.k.a Ogunboss during the rescheduled Bayelsa State governorship election in Southern Ijaw will be flown abroad for further medical treatment.
Chief Never Die was first admitted at the Glory Land Hospital before he was later transferred to an undisclosed hospital at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja for another round of surgery.
Sources stated that necessary documents are being put in place for Chief Never Die to be overseas treatment; additional nine people with severe gun injuries are receiving treatment at the Glory Land Hospital, Yenagoa.
The affected people are Ebi Lambert, Ayibaesin Kala, Ekpoibimunu Newman, Julius Waritua, Malomo Polomi, Felix Ebi, Mike Tata, Daddy Tarimimo and Emmanuel.
The State Commissioner of Police, Peter Ogunyanwo, had at the end of the Security Council meeting assured the people that Ogunboss and other perpetrators would face prosecution after thorough investigation.
According to him, the police command was working hard to restore peace to the Peremabiri community.
He assured the people that the command would prosecute all those involved in the terror attack on the town after the poll, submitting that it would serve as deterrent to others.
An eye witness also spoke on the Peremabiri attacks, saying on the day of the poll, supporters of the PDP were holding a meeting to strategise on how to vote for the incumbent governor, Henry Seriake Dickson, when information came to them that General Ogunbos and his boys were planning to attack the community.
His words, “As we heard of the planned attack, we all came out from the venue of the meeting in Peremabiri constituency 3, amongst us were the paramount ruler of the community, Chief Progress Never die and a host of other PDP supporters.
“Suddenly, we saw General Ogunbos and his boys who were all armed with A.K 47 appearing from different directions shooting at us, in the ensuing confusion, we ran into the nearby bushes for safety where some of us took a local boat to Igbomotoru Community.
“Even as we speak, General Ogunbos and his boys have overran the community, occupied it and burnt down houses including that of Chief Progress Never Die and supporters of the PDP, while the community has been deserted as many of the people are hiding in the nearby bushes and some have fled to neighbouring communities.”
Meanwhile, the death toll of victims of December 5 and 6, 2015 and January 9, governorship election has risen to 20.