Residents of Ogila-ama community in Southern Ijaw Local Government area of Bayelsa State have deserted the community over gunmen attacked on the area in the early hours of Friday.
A community source confirmed to Daily Trust that the gunmen who dressed in army uniform stormed the community in three speed boats at about 5am and operated till 7am on Friday without any obstruction from security agents.
He said as at the time they fled the community for safety, two houses were already burnt down.
An indigene of the community, Pastor Lorhi-bolouikie Ogoro, told Daily Trust that he received a telephone call from his sister and others living in the community informing him about the attack.
He said he was told that before gaining access into the community, the gunmen who came in three boats, shot sporadically and scared the residents.
He however appealed to the state government to come to the community’s rescue and arrest the situation.
Gunmen attack on Southern Ijaw and other coastal communities in Bayelsa State have became rampant in recent time.
Between Christmas day and early January, 2021, gunmen invaded Peremabiri Community in Southern Ijaw twice and burnt down over 20 houses.
Police spokesman in Bayelsa State, SP Asinim Butswat, confirmed the incident, saying the Commissioner of Police, Mike Okoli, has already dispatched detectives to ascertained what happened in the community.
