Mr. Timi Alaibe

Former Presidential Adv-iser on Niger Delta Affairs and governorship aspirant in Bayelsa State, Mr. Timi Alaibe yesterday painted a vivid picture of how he escaped miraculously from the Friday’s attack on his country home by gunmen who killed nine persons and maimed several others.

Alaibe said he was speaking with his supporters who had thronged his home to welcome him when the commotion began from outside the gate.

According to his accounts, few moments after his arrival, gun shots were heard as some of the attackers started shooting at people and inflicting matchete cuts on others while other assailants were vandalising all vehicles in sight.
“People thought it was necessary to welcome me, so they came in their thousands. The crowd was encouraging and I was humbled by it all. It was peaceful up to my village until the attackers came.”

He specifically accused the state government of being behind the attack, while also saying that he suspected that the gunmen were from outside the state.
“They are hired thugs from outside the state as part of an organised plan to stall my bid to take over the governorship in the state. God was merciful, I escaped unhurt.”

On whether he considered himself a threat to anyone, Alaibe asked “Who told you that I am not a threat? Even a fly that wants to contest against the Governor is considered a threat and they will go after the fly.”

However, death toll in the Friday attack rose to nine yesterday as over 40 persons with various degrees of injuries are said to be in different hospitals in Yenegoa and Kaiama towns.
Also yesterday, the state government accused Alaibe of having a “penchant for resorting to violence in his quests” for political position.

THISDAY checks revealed that three of the victims of the attack are now on danger list at a government hospital in the capital city even as the police are said to have arrested 33 persons in connection with the attack.

It was gathered that Alaibe’s cousin who was feared to have been killed in the violence is still alive although he was said to have been badly injured.

Meanwhile, the spoke-sman of the state police command, Eguavoen Emokpae, (ASP) refused to confirm the increase in casualty figure.

He also refused to give the number of people arrested for the act, but admitted that “many people are in police net in connection with the attack.

Meanwhile, a statement issued by the Bayelsa  State’s commissioner for information, Orientation and Strategy, Chief Nathan Egba yesterday blamed Alaibe for the orgy of violence in the state.

The statement reads: “The Bayelsa State Government notes with dismay, the violence that was unleashed on the people of the state yesterday by the activities of Mr. Ndutimi Alaibe of the Labour Party.

“Available reports indicate that Mr Alaibe left Port Harcourt airport yesterday afternoon en route Yenagoa amidst shootings and violent clashes between rival cult groups that reportedly left one person dead.

“Same groups later moved to Opokuma, Mr Alaibe’s country home where unprecedented violence was unlea-shed on the community and visitors including pressmen, most of whom had to run for their lives. Unfortunately, two persons were reportedly killed and scores injured in spite of the arrival of police and other security personnel on the scene.

“The state government views the activities of Mr. Alaibe as totally unacceptable and unbecoming of someone of his standing.
“Government is, however, aware of Mr Alaibe’s penchant for resorting to violence in his political quests, as can be recalled in 2003, when he contested Governorship Primaries with Chief D.S.P Alamieyeseigha.”

Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State Government in another statement released last night “condemned the violent clash that took place in Opokuma, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government area of the state that left two persons dead with six injured.

The statement which was also signed by Egba reads: “The government of Chief Timipre Sylva has over the years laboured to achieve an enduring peace across the state and will not accept any attempt to destroy the effort under any guise.
“It is clear from similar attacks across the state that there are some agents working to destabilise the present administration from its focus of delivering dividends of democracy to the people.

Posted by admin on Jan 9 2011. Filed under Headlines, Niger Delta. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry