Tension in Bayelsa community as gunmen kill ruler, CDC Chairman

Fear and tension have enveloped oil-rich Kalaba community in Yenagoa Council of Bayelsa State over the killing of their paramount ruler, Chief Francis Kolubo, and Community Development Committee (CDC) Chairman, Samuel Oburo, by unknown gunmen.

Although real reasons for the killing have not been made known, the gory killing of the ruler and the CDC chairman may not be unconnected with the lingering chieftaincy dispute and their reported opposition to plans by some crude oil thieves to set up a bunkering camp in the area.

It was gathered that the deceased ruler was abducted from his palace on Sunday to an unknown destination, where he was dealt several machete blows, particularly a deadly cut at the back of his neck close to the spinal cord and the CDC chairman was dragged out of his house and brutally killed in his backyard.

While a source claimed the deceased traditional ruler had been at loggerheads with some prominent indigenes over the move to conduct election that will produce a successor to the throne due to the rotational agreement after four-year tenure.

It was further gathered that all efforts to conduct election after the community election committee had sold forms and screened two persons were frustrated by the deceased monarch. He was also accused of securing a court injunction and a state government order stopping the election.

“It did not go down well with our people.” a source told our correspondent.

We also learnt that a popular crude oil bunkering merchant, who hails from the community, had mobilised his group to set up an illegal operation of crude oil bunkering camp in the bushes bordering Kalaba and Ikarama community sometime early this year. It was gathered that the plan by the crude oil bunkering merchant was fiercely resisted by the deceased monarch and CDC chairman, on the grounds that any attempt to disrupt the activities of Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) would hinder the development of the community.

The spokesman for the Bayelsa State Police Command, Asinim Butswat, confirmed the killings and said the corpse of the monarch was found at Ikarama community and that the police are investigating the development.