Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa
Four persons were on Saturday shot and killed by yet-to-be identified gunmen along Palm Road, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
One of the deceased persons, Alhaji Jubril Abdulkarim, has however been identified as the Chairman of the Cattle Breeders Association in Bayelsa State.
The four victims were attacked Saturday afternoon along the Bayelsa Palm road, where all cattle dealers from all parts of the country are known to do their business.
It was not immediately clear the motive behind the killings, but the police in the state told journalists that they were aware of some infighting within the leadership of the union in recent times. Exploring other possible leads, the police spokesman in the state, Asinim Butswat, said all their major operations personnel had been put on the alert to apprehend the culprits soon.
A source, who accompanied the corpses to the morgue at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa, said Abdulkarim and the three others were killed within the premises of his private abattoir.
“The gunmen invaded the place this afternoon and shot him. He is a household name, because he is the highest supplier of cows in Bayelsa.
“The gunmen also turned to his boys and killed three of them. It is a sad development. But we are calling for calm, because the incident is fresh and requires thorough investigations,†the source said.
He hoped that the motive behind the dastardly act would be uncovered by security agencies during their investigations.
He narrated that immediately after the shooting the gunmen fled the scene before those who were close-by offered help to the victims, who were still breathing at the time.
Butswat said the gunmen were three in number and that the victims were shot in their heads. “On November 2, 2017, at about 1230hrs, three unknown gunmen in a Black Mazda 323 car, Registration number yet unknown, went to Azikoro Road by winners ‘U’ turn, Yenagoa, where one Alhaji Jibril Abdulkarim, the Chairman Cattle Breeders Association, Bayelsa State Branch, was discussing with three others, shot at them in their heads and drove off to unknown destination.
“Policemen were immediately deployed for possible arrest. The scene was visited by the Police. Three of the victims, one Abiso Abba ‘m’, Yunusa (surname unknown) and the third person, who is yet to be identified, died at the spot, while Alhaji Jibril Abdulkarim was rushed to the hospital for medical attention, where he later died.
“There’s suspicion of internal wrangling and strife within the Association. Police and other security agencies are working on a promising lead for possible arrest of the suspects.
“Corpses of the victims have been deposited at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa for autopsy. All units have been alerted and efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects,†the police said.
