Violence Erupts In Southern Ijaw As Residents Desert Their Homes

*Dickson Accuses Lokpobiri Of Using Thugs To Unleash Mayhem On PDP Members

BALTIMORE, MD (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Serious violence has erupted in Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa state, leading to non accreditation of voters for today’s governorship election in the state.

Heavily armed thugs had in the morning hours of today hijacked electoral materials sent to various electoral wards, and polling units in the council area by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC.

Residents of some of the affected community such as Opoluma, Agiama, Akwuebili, Parabiri, amongst others have deserted their homes, following heavy shooting by hoodlums.

Meanwhile, Bayelsa Governor Seriake Dickson has accused the Minister of State for Agriculture, Heineken Lokpobiri, of sponsoring thugs adorning police and army uniforms to unleash mayhem on PDP supporters and disrupting the electoral process.

The governor who spoke with journalists on Saturday after his accreditation at ward 2 in Toru Orua, his home town, decried the failure of the card readers.

A visibly angry Dickson condemned in strong terms report of violence unleashed by APC thugs with the help of soldiers as sporadic shots rented the air especially in places like Okpoama, Eweama, Twon Brass and Oporoma, Headquarters of Southern Ijaw LGA.

Dickson said it was unfortunate that the security agencies did not give serious heed to his earlier warning, when he said the APC was not prepared for election but war.

Dickson said reports reaching him revealed that members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in theses areas were attacked with guns, machete and other dangerous weapons.

The attackers are on rampage as one person is said to have died and several others severely injured