Street Battle in Bayelsa
By Segun James in Yenagoa
Hell was let loose in the streets of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital, as suspected political thugs engaged men of the Nigeria Police Force in an all-out battle at the state secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during a bid to hijack election materials for the House of Representatives primaries on Saturday.
The state commissioner of police, Ntomchukwu, the state chairman of the PDP, Col. Sam Inokoba, his state secretary, Mathew Keku and some newsmen were trapped inside the secretariat building as the battle raged for almost two hours with residents of the neighbouring red-light district taking to their heels for dear lives.
During the battle, the suspected thugs held the members of the Electoral Committee of the party deployed to the state for the conduct of the primaries hostage.
The PDP Election Committee members led by Gen. Idi Adamu as Chairman, Yeye Bola Dare, Zanna Mustapha, Alaye Don Pedro and John Idoko as Secretary were held hostage at the PDP Secretariat for hours.
The incident triggered pandemonium as politicians who had congregated at the secretariat to witness the distribution of materials scampered into the surroundings. This occurred about noon.
According to a journalist who was trapped in the crossfire, Mrs Joy Bello, the thugs arrived the PDP Secretariat in a white Siena space wagon and armed with dangerous weapons including guns
THISDAY
Sayelba Times 