Gunmen suspected to be militants involved in illegal crude oil bunkering, on Sunday night, ambushed and killed Goodnews Manash, the Community Development Committee (CDC) chairman of Igbomotoru 1 community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Community sources told newsmen on Monday that the slain CDC chairman was ambushed behind the community’s school compound around 10:30 pm on Sunday, while he was on his way to his brother’s house.

Igbomotoru community, rich in crude oil deposits and famous for ruthless militants and crude oil thieves, have had series of intra-communal clashes which have forced many indigenes to seek exile.

A community leader who pleaded anonymity, said that the assailants gained access into the town through a forest at the back of the community because there are military check-points along the waterway, making it difficult for them to access the community through speedboats.

He said: “There was no hint that the gunmen involved in illegal activities unchallenged, especially crude oil bunkering, would strike.

“They had been driven out of the community by the Nigerian army. And angered by that, they have succeeded in killing the CDC chairman who is working hard to restore peace in our community.”

Confirming the incident, the paramount ruler of the community, HRH. Ayibaikie Aseimighen Ofongo, said: “Around 12 midnight and 2am on Monday, somebody from the community called to inform me that gunmen have abducted the CDC chairman of our community.

“It was not until daybreak that I got concrete information that the CDC chairman was actually assassinated in the community. I can confirm that he is dead, but we intend to have meetings at the community level before we issue an official statement to the public”

Also, the Press Secretary to the chairman, Southern Ijaw LGA, Dr. Ayibaetare Easterday, said that he got wind of the news Sunday morning.

While condemning the incident, he stressed that such a case puts the community and LGA in bad reputation before the international community.

When contacted, the Police Spokesman in Bayelsa State, DSP Musa Muhammad, responded “I will get back to you”, in a WhatsApp message, but he couldn’t pick subsequent calls as at the time of filing this report.