"Abiola came into the meeting with more than 30 armed thugs to invade the meeting. It tooks drastic efforts by the men of the JTF to calm down the situation," a source told SaharaReporters.
There is palpable tension in Ikebiri community of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State after armed thugs attacked Chief Kingdom Orio, the traditional ruler of the community.
The suspected thugs, numbering 30 and allegedly hired by the chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC), Abiola Beredou, invaded the community during a peace meeting to resolve the accrimony over the disputed chairmanship of the youth leadership.
The incident, which occurred on Saturday, turned bloody when the suspected thugs allegedly invaded the peace meeting and beat up the traditional chief. They also attacked those that attempted to resist the invasion.
A source said the arrival of military personnel stationed at Ogbeinbiri Oil Station in the Southern Ijaw Area prevented total breakdown of law and order.
Narrating the incident to SaharaReporters, the source said: "The suspected thugs invaded the Usaku Wari family meeting and they were led by the CDD Chairman of Ikebiri Kingdom, who was imposed on the community last December.
"Mr Abiola Beredou, the CDC Chairman of Ikebiri 1 community, who was imposed to the Kingdom by those who are claiming owners of the oil rich community, went into the peaceful family meeting with armed thugs and beat up Chief Kingdom Orio, who happens to be the family chief of Usaku Wari in Tamakuno Compound.
"The so-called CDC Chairman is from the same Usaku Warri Family. He was said to be angry because the family chief and other stakeholders who imposed Mr Abiola on the community decided to make peace with other family members, who have been aggrieved since the imposition of Mr Abiola on the community.
"Abiola came into the meeting with more than 30 armed thugs to invade the meeting. It tooks drastic efforts by the men of the JTF to calm down the situation. What a shame! A community leader whose primary responsibilities are to protect his people, is now moving with thugs to intimidate his family members."