Military to Storm Bayelsa Town After Beheading of Security Operative

The military is set to move into Ndoro community in Ekeremor Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, after the alleged beheading of a plainclothes security operative in the area.

It was learnt that residents had already started fleeing the area as a result of the apprehension generated by the action reportedly carried out by suspected militants.

The movement of the military personnel, including the army and the navy, THISDAY gathered, had already been approved by the state government after series of meetings with stakeholders.

Aside the security chiefs, officials of the military high command, leaders and stakeholders Bayelsa State Government, also present at the meeting was the member representing Sagbama/Ekeremor federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Fred Agbedi.

The deceased security personnel was said to be negotiating with the hoodlums to submit their arms to the authorities when he was lured and allegedly mauled down by the criminals.

A resident of the community, Mr. Henshaw Ebi, confirmed to journalists yesterday that the security official was negotiating with a militant leader in the area to surrender their arms when the incident occurred.

“The community was thrown into apprehension and people began to flee in droves since the lifeless body of the ‘security emissary’ was seen in the community without his head. The victim cannot be identified because he is in plain clothes.

“The fear is that the military might come after those responsible any moment from now and invade the community. The community has been deserted as we speak due to fear of imminent manhunt for the militants behind the dastardly act,’’ the resident said.

But the Bayelsa State Government, in its reaction to the development, urged the fleeing residents to return, maintaining that there was no cause for alarm.

The government called on fleeing members of the community to return home as the situation had been brought under control.

Commissioner of Information and Orientation in the state, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said in a statement that it was resolved that the military should move into the community and restore order, while the government would begin a peace process.