Tragedy struck in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, on Tuesday when a policeman, identified as Obot Godwin, was killed by hoodlums in the Amarata area. Obot was said to have gone out around 6am to buy medicine when he was attacked, robbed of his phone, and struck on the head after pleading with the assailants to return the handset. He died on the spot.
Following the killing, heavily armed policemen stormed OMPADEC Street and other parts of Amarata, conducting raids and making indiscriminate arrests. Eyewitnesses said officers fired gunshots into the air, broke into houses, and used tear gas, which affected several residents including schoolchildren. The development created panic in the densely populated neighbourhood, forcing some residents to flee while traders shut down their shops.
Amarata has long been notorious for violent crimes and clashes involving rival cult groups, but residents lamented that security agencies had failed to act until the latest incident. A resident told reporters that windows were smashed during the raid and that even community leaders were not spared, with the area chief reportedly arrested. “They threatened to return in the evening and arrest more people. We don’t know what to do,” another resident lamented.
Some eyewitnesses also claimed that innocent residents were taken away during the operation. A broadcaster with Radio Bayelsa, Priye Julius, who lives in the area, confirmed the situation, noting that though calm had returned by noon, the community remained tense. Another resident alleged that two people, including a businessman and a park worker, were forcibly taken from his estate by the police.
When contacted, the Bayelsa State Police Public Relations Officer, Musa Mohammed, confirmed the killing and the subsequent police operation. He described the incident as a “serious matter,” adding that security teams were on the ground to maintain calm while investigations were ongoing to track down the killers. “Yes, it is a serious matter. The area is calm. Police teams are on the ground and the investigation is ongoing,” he stated.
