Save us from hired killers- Bayelsa community writes Buhari, Tinubu

Opu- Nembe Council of Chiefs in Opu- Nembe Community of Bayelsa State has sent a Save our Soul letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, President-elect Senator Bola Tinubu, Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, the Inspector General of Police, Chairman Police Service Commission, the National Security Adviser and relevant authorities to save the kingdom and its citizens from hired killers.

Addressing a press conference in Opu- Nembe community in Nembe Council Area of Bayelsa State, the Chiefs Council through its Chairman, Chief Ezekiel Ikoli  said as a result of the unwarranted and unprovoked attack the people have petition the Inspector General of Police, Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 16, the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police and other security agencies.

Ikolil pointed out that the said attack on the community which led to the death of 3 persons was carried out by Mr. Kojo Sam, adding that since then Kojo Sam has been walking freely with out being questioned or arrested by the authorities concerned.

He said that despite assurances given by the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Hon. Timipre Sylva during his visit to commiserate with the community over the attack and his promise to submit a petition to IG on behalf of the Kingdom and to withdraw the Tantita Pipeline Surveillance contract from Mr. Kojo Sam,  Sylva never carried out these promises.

He accused the former Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Chief Tomipre Sylva of protecting and shielding the police and other security from arresting those who perpetrators of the brutal attack on the people.

The Opu-Nembe Kingdom alleged that the former Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Chief Tomipre Sylva is regrooming Mr. Kojo Sam and his army of militant to launch another attack on the community in a desperate attempt to to render the community vulnerable, cease power in a bid to ease his governorship ambition.

Ikoli said: ” it would be recalled that Opu-Nembe Kingdom was attacked by one Mr. Kojo Sam and his hired killers/ militants numbering over 100 and killed three persons on the 15th day of February, 2023. Those killed Mr. Bait Agala, Miss Queen Kieriseiye and Mr. Inikio Walter are still lying cold in the mortuary.

” It is pertinent to note that the former Minister of Petroleum Resources (State), Hon. Timipre Sylva came to the community and while condemning the attack by Mr. Kojo Sam, promised the community to stand by it and bring the perpetrators to face the law.

” Amongst his promises was to submit a petition from the community to the Inspector General of Police and withdraw the Tantita Pipeline Surveillance contract from Kojo Sam.

” We must remind the press audience that in our last press briefing, we did inform the press that the perpetrators were being protected by some highly placed personalities and we did promise we would expose them in our next press briefing. Now we can authoritatively state that the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Hon. Timipre Sylva is one of the persons protecting and shielding the police and other security agencies from arresting the perpetrators of the brutal attack on the Kingdom.

” Now that the Police (IGP’s office) have started action by arresting the perpetrators, the former Minister of Petroleum Resources has shown his true colour that he is behind the attack. He is now threatening to use the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone 16, Ben Okolo and the Officer in Charge of the Anti-Kidnapping, CSP Benson to launch a counter arrest on the citizens of Opu-Nembe who were attacked, killed and maimed.

” It is worthy of note that Hon. Timipre Sylva is the defacto contractor of the Tantita Pipeline Surveillance contract having Mr. Kojo Sam as the cover contractor. We are not also oblivious of the fact a former Senator is also behind the attack. Several calls and threats are coming from the aides of Hon. Timipre Sylva; SP Mohammed, Hon. Victor Isaiah, former Chairman, Brass Local Government Council and other close associates of the former Minister.

“The former Minister, Hon. Timipre Sylva is now regrooming Mr. Kojo Sam, his hired militants and other militants groups to carry out another attack on the community in a bid to take over the community to ease his governorship ambition. We have an emphatic security alert that another brutal attack is eminent.”