Caleb Tamunosaki Yenagoa
The challenge of insecurity has heightened in Bayelsa State following the murder of the paramount ruler of Kalaba community in the Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state, Francis Kolubo, and the Community Development Committee (CDC) chairman, Oburo Samuel.
It was gathered that the killings might not be unconnected with the alleged opposition of the deceased to plans by some suspected crude oil thieves to set up an illegal refinery camp in the area.
The deceased monarch was said to have been abducted from his palace on Sunday to an unknown place where he was murdered, while the CDC chairman was dragged out of his house and killed in his backyard.
It was also learnt that the deceased royal father had been at loggerheads with some prominent indigenes over the move to conduct election that will produce a successor to the throne based on the rotational agreement after a four-year tenure.
But all efforts to conduct an election after the community election committee had sold forms and screened two aspirants were allegedly frustrated by the deceased monarch, who also reportedly secured a court injunction and a state government order stopping the polls.
It was further gathered that an oil bunkering kingpin from the area had mobilised his group to set up an illegal operation of crude oil bunkering camp in the thickset bordering Kalaba and Ikarama community sometime early this year.
However, this was resisted by the slain traditional ruler and the CDC chairman on the grounds that any attempt to tamper with crude oil pipelines in the area would hinder the community’s development.
A community source said, “On Monday, the community woke up to the story that our paramount ruler has been kidnapped by some gunmen at about 3am in his palace. We were all shocked and confused about what may have led to his abduction.
“That same day, the CDC chairman travelled to Yenagoa, the state capital, to officially report the incident to the Police. While he was there, information came to some members of the community that the gang saw the CDC chairman in Yenagoa while he was reporting the incident to Police and that they have sent some gunmen to lay ambush at his house.
“When he drove into town, he was informed about this plot and advised not to enter the community but he refused. He said no harm will come to him. As he drove into the community, a popular Pastor stopped him along the road and pleaded with him to take a back road that would lead him out of the community.
“This time, he still refused to take the advice. Just as the gang had planned, the moment he got to his house about 7pm, some men armed with guns and machete came out from hiding and dragged him to his backyard where they murdered him.”
The killer gang, after the incident, was said to have sent message to the community that the monarch had been gruesomely murdered and gave them direction to where they could recover his corpse.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa State Command, SP Asinim Butswat, confirmed the incident, saying that the corpse of the monarch was found at Ikarama community and that the police had commenced an investigation.
