By Sampson Boroh
There was confusion in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, on Thursday morning following the killing of a pregnant woman, husband and two others by arms-wielding gunmen.
It was learnt that the incident occurred along the popular bakery Road in Azikoro community of Yenagoa local government council area of the State.
Sources in the area linked the gruesome killing of the victims to a retaliatory attack over the alleged demolition of suspected hoodlums’ hideout in the area.
The pregnant wife and her husband were shot dead front of their house.
Our correspondent gathered that police operatives under the Operation Puff Adder had recently destroyed the attackers’ hideout following information provided by residents of the area.
The operatives were said to have invaded the militant camp reportedly fingered by some residents as a base for illegal bunkering, kidnapping and other criminal activities on Tuesday night.
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The hoodlums irked by the development mobilized and attacked the victims on Thursday morning.
Sources further revealed that four gang members of the attackers were said to have been lynched and arrested in the process.
A new generation church known as the Lion of Judah Fire Deliverance Ministry, off Bakery Road was also attacked by the gunmen with the security guard shot dead.
The gunmen were said to have been chased away by the superior firepower of the operatives later deployed to the scene.
They were said to have escaped through the outskirt of the community.
The State Commissioner of Police, Mike Okoli, who confirmed the incident, had also visited the scene of the dastardly attack.
Okoli assured residents of the area of police protection and as well as ordered Investigation into the incident.
A statement later issued by its Spokesman, Asinim Butswat, announced that the gunmen behind the attack were cultists.
Butswat, while saying that two suspects have been arrested in connection with the attack, noted that the victims members of Lion Judah Church in the community.
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According to him, “On 5th August, 2020, at about 2300hours, armed suspected cultists stormed the ‘Lion of Judah Church’ Azikoro village, Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State”
“They shot dead four church members namely; Alfred Marcus ‘m’ 30 years, Imomotimi surname unknown 25 years Gabriel Ejimofor ‘m’ 45 years and Uchechukwu Ejimofor ‘f’ 38 years and set ablaze a nearby building, damaged a vehicle and the church properties” .
“Operatives of operation Puff Adder had earlier traced the hideouts of the cultists in the bush, dislodged them and burnt their camp. It is believed that this is a reprisal attack by the suspected cultists. Meanwhile two suspects have been arrested and are cooperating with the Police in their investigation.”
