5 Thugs with 136 Hand Grenades, 2 AK47 Riffle Magazines & Other Items Nabbed in Bayelsa

Posted by Odinaka on Sat 05th Dec, 2015 - tori.ng

As the gubernatorial election in Bayelsa taking place today, December 5, the Joint Task Force has seized hand grenades, AK 47 rifle magazines, among other items believed to be meant for disrupting the election.

Bayelsa governorship elections between Timipre Sylva, a former governor of the state representing the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Seriake Dickson representing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and also the incumbent governor.

Major General Alani Okunlola, the force commander said that it recovered 36 hand grenades, two AK 47 rifle magazines, a pair of military uniform, combat boots and a bag containing personal belongings from five suspected political thugs.

Okunlola revealed that an intensive patrol of Mansonkri fishing camp in Nembe and Southern Ijaw local government area yielded the arrest of the suspects in Okaka on Thursday, December 3.

"On December 3, 2015, following a tip-off, our troops arrested five suspected political thugs in their hideouts at Okaka, Yenagoa, Bayelsa state, while on patrol.

They were arrested while in possession of 36 hand grenades, two empty AK 47 rifle magazines, a pair of military uniform, combat boots and a bag containing personal belongings."

An indigene of the state who simply identified himself as Fred expressed fear about the conduct of the election.

"I advise my fellow Bayelsans to go and vote peacefully and avoid violence. The election should not be seen as a do-or-die affair.

Southern Ijaw is volatile because majority of the militants are from there. So, we cannot predict what will happen tomorrow because we have been hearing rumours here and there.

We hear that they (militants) are saying that they don’t want to see anyone vote for a particular party, but I don’t know why this is the case because no one should force anyone to vote for any party."