From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Several people were injured and 20 houses burnt yesterday as suspected cultists attacked Nembe Ogbolomabiri youths in Nembe local government area of Bayelsa state.
According to a police source, the suspected cultists were on a revenge mission against the death Nengi Isere who they claimed drown in the river while running away from members of Nembe Youth Council (NYC) escape from the youths who were trying to punish him for insulting its chairman.
As at pres time several people have fled the community as the armed cultists embarked on looting spree of shops and business premises operated by non-indigenes and Indigenes suspected to be loyal to the Nembe Youth Council.
The sources said, Nembe youths were irked over the behaviour of Isere who had a shouting match with the Chairman of NYC during the recent Installation of Chiefs at the Palace of the Mingi, His Eminence, King Edmund Daukoru.
“The Nembe Youth Council had issues with Nengi Isere. So in their attempt to arrest him, he jumped into the river, but drowned while swimming across. Some of his associates allegedly used the opportunity to wreak havoc on the community.”
Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah, who is also from the community has been briefed and he has directed security agencies to ensure that hoodlums were not allowed to cause crisis in the community.