ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
Police operatives in Bayelsa State in collaboration with a vigilance group have arrested a man, Richard Okon, an indigene of Akwa Ibom State but resident in Bayelsa, for illegal possession of firearms.
Okon was arrested in Koluama 2 in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.
It was learnt that the suspect was apprehended by vigilant youths of the community while on his way to a funeral in the area with high-profile personalities expected to attend the ceremony.
He was said to be later handed over to the police in the area.
The suspect, who confessed in a video made available to reporters in Yenagoa, the state capital, on Monday, claimed to be working for one Timiebi Woinemi Amadein, a nephew and Chief Security Officer to the Senator representing Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, Senator Cleopas Moses.
Okon, who also claimed that the gun in his possession belonged to Amadein, alleged that he was instructed to bring the weapon to the venue of the burial before he was apprehended.
The community youths alleged that the suspect was plotting to kill Chief Sele-epri Matthew, a prominent indigene of the area and Chairman of the eight host communities of Chevron Nigeria Limited in Southern Ijaw and Brass LGAs under the KEFFES Rural Development Foundation.
KEFESS is a foundation representing the eight CNL host communities in Bayelsa comprising Koluama 1 & 2, Ezetu 1 & 2, Foropa, Fish Town, Ekeni and Sangana located along the Atlantic coastline within the state.
Some indigenes, particularly those involved in the recent crisis that rocked KEFFES, alleged that the development might have been another assassination attempt on Chief Sele-epri Matthew as Okon and his collaborators thought Matthew would be at the burial.
Matthew and Amadein were recently involved in a leadership tussle over the control of KEFESS.
The crisis led to the suspension of Amadein and five others by the foundation’s management board over alleged contempt of court and illegal constitution of a parallel management board.
When contacted, Matthew said he was short of words on the development.
He said he was expected to attend the burial but later changed his mind at the dying minute.
Also contacted, spokesman for the Bayelsa State Police Command, Asinim Butswat, confirmed seeing the purported confessional video.
He, however, said he had yet to get official details on where and when the arrest was made and reported.