One of the persons killed was identified as the spokesman of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) in the area.
Three persons have been killed following a bloody clash between suspected thugs loyal to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
One of the persons killed was identified as the spokesman of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) in the area.
While some PDP supporters alleged that the death of the three persons occurred during a failed attempt to assassinate the Caretaker Chairman of the Brass Local Council, Honourable Victoria Isiah, their APC counterparts alleged that more than 10 suspected armed men, hired from the neighbouring Odioma community, were challenged by indigenes of the community and some members of the IYC, before they were attacked with machete and guns.
A source from the community, who identified himself as Charles Junior, alleged that the killers, suspected to be hired PDP thugs, were housed at the Local Government Chairmen lodge before and after the clash. The lodge is close to the Police Divisional Headquarters.
According to Charles, "the whole incident started on the 15th of August with the attack on the IYC Chairman in Brass. The attackers and their PDP supporters were chased out of the town but the chiefs and elders pleaded that they be allowed back to town.
"On Monday morning, some boys, about 10 of them,were noticed to have entered the town through Odioma. They headed to the Imbikiri part of the town and were challenged by the IYC boys and the APC. The suspected thugs opened fire on them and dealt most of them machete blows.”
A post by one of the supporters of the PDP in Brass, monitored on the Facebook page of the caretaker Chairman, Victor Isiah, indicated that the clash was allegedly due to provocation from some APC youths, following the attack on the Special Adviser On Youths Matters to the Council.
The post read: "A few days ago, some suspected armed APC youths attacked the local government council aide and PDP youths. Now, they attempted to assassinate the Caretaker Chairman of the Council."
When contacted on the development, the Bayelsa State Police Command spokesman, Asinim Butswat, confirmed the development.
He said: "There was a clash between youths who claimed to be PDP and APC members. One person was reported dead, while others were injured. We have deployed policemen to restore peace in the area. We have also commenced investigations to ascertain the remote and immediate causes of the crisis. We advise people to go about their normal activities."