Bayelsa imposes nine-hour curfew on brass, vows to prosecute offenders

The Bayelsa State Government has imposed a nine-hour curfew on Brass Council from 9pm to 6am, just it vowed to prosecute the hoodlums responsible for the killing of no fewer than three persons and injuring many in Twon-Brass.

Twon-Brass has been under siege since August 15, this year, by hoodlums suspected to be thugs loyal to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The state Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd), yesterday during a news conference at Government House, Yenagoa, said reports reaching the government indicated that the said violence and mayhem was sponsored by some highly-placed individuals for political purposes.

He said the state government had directed the law enforcement agencies to carry out thorough investigation into the activities of the said hoodlums and ensure the prosecution of all persons found culpable, no matter how highly placed.

Jonah urged the people of the state, especially the people of Twon-Brass, to remain law-abiding, saying government would take all necessary lawful measures to maintain peace, law and order.

He charged residents of the area to comply with the curfew, which would be lifted as soon as normalcy was restored.

Meanwhile, the Caretaker Chairman of the council, Victor Isaiah, and the member representing Brass Constituency 1 in the House of Assembly, Israel Sunny-Goli, are at daggers’ drawn over the bloody clash on Monday that led to the killing of three persons and injuring of several others.

On Thursday, the APC sent a protest letter to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, over the incident, claiming that two of its members were killed in the violent attack by PDP thugs.

But Isaiah dismissed the allegation, saying the thugs were sponsored by Sunny-Goli and dissociated the PDP from the violence, alleging that the youths made attempt on his life by attacking his personal lodge with guns and other dangerous weapons.

He said attempts by the alleged APC thugs to gain entrance into his official lodge was met with resistance from the council’s security volunteers group, insisting the PDP had nothing to do with the violence.