The insecurity in Bayelsa worsened as gunmen suspected of involvement in illegal crude oil bunkering reportedly ambushed and killed the Community Development Committee (CDC) chairman of Igbomotoru 1 community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, on Sunday night.

According to community sources who confirmed the incident to journalists, the CDC chairman, Mr. Goodnews Manash, was ambushed behind the community’s school compound around 10:30 pm on Sunday night, while en route to his brother’s house.

Igbomotoru, rich in crude oil deposits and infamous for ruthless militants and oil thieves, has experienced a series of intra-communal clashes which have forced many indigenes to seek exile.

A community leader who pleaded anonymity said that the assailants gained access to the town through a forest at the back of the community “because we have military checkpoints along our waterway, making it impossible for them to come in speedboats.”

He said the community got no hint that the gunmen were going to strike.

“They had been driven out of the community by the Nigerian army. And angered by that, they succeeded in killing the CDC chairman, who is working hard to restore peace in our community,” he said.

Confirming the incident, the paramount ruler of the community, HRH. Ayibaikie Aseimighen Ofongo said, “Between 12 midnight and 2 am on Sunday, somebody from the community called to inform me that gunmen had abducted the CDC chairman of our community.

“It was not until daybreak that I got concrete information that the CDC chairman had been assassinated in the community. I can confirm that he is dead, but we intend to have meetings at the community level before we issue an office statement to the public.”

Also, the Press Secretary to the Chairman of Southern Ijaw LGA, Dr. Ayibaetare Easterday, stated that he became aware of the news on Sunday morning and condemned the incident, stressing that such a case tarnishes the community’s and LGA’s reputation before the international community.

He said, “The story is true, but he was not killed in his house. He was killed close to another person’s compound, whom he was going to visit. It is an unfortunate incident, and we pray that such incidents do not happen again.

“We are all brothers and sisters, so if we offend one another in the community, we should exercise tolerance and make peace. The incident is not befitting of who we are, and it is condemnable.”