There was pandemoniun in Nembe Ogbolomabiri in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa state following exchange of gunfire and mayhem between supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) during a governorship rally organised by the ruling party.
A staff of the Bayelsa State Broadcasting Corporation owners of Radio Bayelsa and driver of the Outside Bbroadcasting van identified as Simon Onu was hit by flying bullet and died on the spot while trying to maneuver his vehicle from the troubled spot.
Two other persons identified as supporters of the PDP were reported killed in the bloody shooting. A policeman was reportedly shot in the leg.
The governorship campaign rally of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which was slated to hold in the area was disrupted and party faithfuls chased out of the area.
Governor Seriake Dickson, who was billed to attend the rally in company of the candidate of the party, Senator Douye Diri, however condemned the bloody attack.
Blueprint learned, that trouble started when some supporters of one of the political parties started defacing posters and flags of the rival Political party.
Serious shooting by armed men reportedly rocked the King Koko Square venue of the campaign as party supporters waiting for the diginataries to arrive took to their heels.
The attackers it was also learned opened fire on the Protocol bus of the Bayelsa State Government House along the junction between Bassambiri and Ogbolomabiri.
Some journalists, including this reporter Joy Emmanuel, James Akam of the Daily Post and Mike Taiyese of the Daily Asset newspapers, covering the rally were also caught in the cross fire as many others sustained different degree of injuries.
The trapped journalists were however rescued and moved out of the troubled area by armed military personnel.
Confirming the shootings, the incident, spokesperson of the Nembe Chiefs Council, Chief Nengi James, said there was a clash between rival supporters of the PDP and APC in Nembe resulting in injuries.
He said: “I can confirmed that supporters of the PDP and APC clash in Nembe with some persons sustaining various degree of injuries, but however, no death has been recorded.”
Also, a prominent indigene of the area and former senator representing Bayelsa East senatorial district, Senator Nimi Barigha-Amang, has condemned in its entirety the act of provocation and violence released on the community by supporters of the People Democratic Party (PDP).
In his statement Chief Senator Nimi Barigha-Amangi noted that the approved venue for the PDP rally was King Koko Square and instead of going about their normal business of the day, went about chanting war songs around the community terrorising and molesting passers by.
Chief Barigha-Amange said that this was uncalled for, because other patties did use the same venue for their rallies which was very peaceful and rancour free.
He however warned that no individual should hide under any political platform to breach the already existing peace and harmonious relationship amongst the people in Nembe.
He called on the various security agencies in the area to redouble their efforts in stopping trouble makers from further terrorising the peace loving people of Nembe in name of politics as no group would be allowed to over run the Nembe community.
The Police Public Relations officer, Asinim Bustwart, was yet to respond as at press time.
