By Samuel Oyadongha

Yenagoa — The spectre of violence rocking Bayelsa State is far from over as armed gunmen yesterday launched yet another attack on the Opume country of the Chairman of the Board of Federal Inland Waterways Authority, King Amalate Johnnie Turner, a close associate of President Goodluck Jonathan, in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Investigation revealed that unlike the attacks on Governor Timipre Sylva’s Okpoama hometown, the impeached deputy governor, Peremobowei Ebebi’s residence at Aleibiri and the Speaker, Nestor Binabo’s country home at Okunbiri which were launched through the creeks, the attackers this time around stormed the home of their target (King AJ Turner) in a convoy of two cars.

Though no life was lost during attack, it was learnt that the hoodlums carted away jewelries and other valuables of the royal father.

The incident which is the fifth in the series of sustained attacks on public office holders in the state in the last two weeks was launched at about 2.30 a.m.

The security men on duty at the premises were caught napping by the invaders who dispossessed them of their rifle and tied them up.

A man who claimed to be the chief security officer of the building, said the  gunmen asked about the whereabouts of the owner of the house as well as where he kept his money.

“When we told the gunmen the owner was not around but in Abuja, they (hoodlums) proceeded to search the whole building and left with some valuables,” he said

Contacted on phone, King Turner who was away in Abuja when the gunmen struck said he had handed everything to God, wondering why anyone would want to attack his home.

AC blasts security agencies

Meanwhile, the Action Congress, AC), has expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in the state.

The party through its Acting chairman, Ebikibina Miriki, lamented that in spite of the presence of the Joint Task Force, the State Security Service (SSS) and the Police in the state, the series of violence that had gripped the state is appalling.

According to AC, “the event of the last few weeks is not only terrifying, shocking, barbaric and unacceptable but the reign of terror is pathetic and should not be condoned by responsible government because it affects the lives and property of the people.

“The show of failure by the Nigerian Police and the State Security Service to protect the lives and property of innocent citizens with the non-arrest of the ravaging scourge that snowballed into a serious security threat to the existing peace in the state has become unbearable and a monumental embarrassment to the President.”