A major tragedy was on Saturday averted in Yenagoa as uniformed security personnel attached to the state chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tiwe
Orunimighe and one of its governorship aspirants, Timi Alaibe opened fire in an attempt to escape arrest from men of the Bayelsa State Environmental Sanitation Board.
During the shooting which lasted for 10 minutes, residents of Yenagoa scampered for safety to avoid possible stray bullets.
The Chairman of BSESB, Hon. Oboku Offorji, at a press briefing after the incident raised the alarm over possible breakdown of law and order in the State as the December 5 governorship election approaches.
He alleged that both Tiwe and Alaibe flouted the state sanitation law by driving in a convoy without permit during the period of the exercise but were stopped by sanitation officers.
“In bid to escape arrest, policemen in their convoy came out and shot sporadically, saying it was a threat to law and order in the state”, Offorji stated.
According to him, before the incident, the younger brother to another APC governorship aspirant, Godknows Powell, accompanied by a policeman had also flouted the sanitation law by driving around during the exercise without any permit and was stopped by the sanitation officers.
Offorji however claimed that they resorted to violence in a bid to escape when the policeman in the vehicle released gunshots into the air but that men of the sanitation office led by the chairman quickly impounded the vehicle and was towed to its office.
Offorji said the BSESB has concluded plans to lodge a formal petition to the police authorities to effect the arrest of the policemen used by these politicians to undermine the peace in the state.
He also said similar efforts were being made to invite the APC chairman, Tiwe and Alaibe for questioning and possible arrest for flouting the state environmental law.
Offorji expressed surprise why political leaders who should show good examples, would act irrationally, saying such behavior was capable of influencing others to cultivate lawlessness to the detriment of the society.
