Armed gunmen believed to be hired thugs on Friday who invaded the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat in Bayelsa State, killed two persons and left several others with varying injuries.
The thugs it was learnt were at the secretariat to scuttle the inauguration of the new acting chairman of the party, Mr. Joseph Fafi.
Recall that armed security personnel made up of policemen and men of the Department of State Security (DSS) recently occupied the APC secretariat in Bayelsa following the crisis that ensued over the suspension of the state party chairman, Tiwei Orunimighe.
The APC National Working Committee (NWC) of the party had suspended Orunimighe and two others, the vice chairman, Eddy Julius and assistant Secretary, Marlin Danlin over alleged anti-party activities and gross misconduct.
The Friday attack which took place around 10: am happened after the supposed thugs invaded the scene of the event disguising as protesters. They were said to have first attacked the security mounted some distance away from the secretariat before entering inside the complex.
It was learnt that the situation went out of hand following attempts by security operatives to stop the thugs from entering the secretariat complex. The fracas that ensured led to sporadic shooting as people run helter scatter for covering.
It was during the shooting that flying bullets reportedly hit an APC member from Sagbama Local Government Area and a hawker.
A member of the State House of Assembly, Isreal Sunny-Igoli, who commented on the unfortunate event, blamed some dismissed dissidents within the party as responsible for the attack.
“The APC members can not be intimidated in Bayelsa State. We know and we believe that the party is on the path of rebuilding and enthronement of peace within its fold. The sponsors of the attack will be brought to book.”
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Former governor and party leader in the state, Chief Timipre Sylva, told members of the party after he arrived at the scene of the event about two hours after the incident that “the bad days of the party are over.”
He said the attack is cowardly and wicked and expressed regret for the unfortunate event.
The Bayelsa attack is coming just as the recent APC primaries in Lagos saw some members of the party killed and left many with varying injuries.
