Secondary school boy arrested over possession of gun

A 15-year-old secondary school student, Master Emmanuel Apiakise, has been arrested for being in possession of a locally made pistol.

The student was alleged to have being found with the gun during class period. He was arrested along the Akenfa-Epie area of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

The teenager, an SS2 student of Community Secondary School, Akenfa-Epie, was arrested while in school uniform by some indigenes of the Akenfa community led by the local vigilante committee.

There are two versions to the story of the arrest of Apiakise. While one version claimed that he was accosted and searched by the vigilante men after he was fingered by some indigenes, another version insisted that he was arrested in classroom after his classmates snitched on him. The management of the school dismissed the claim as untrue and insisted that Apiakise was not their student.

A member of the school management team, who pleaded anonymity, said:  "The boy was not arrested in the classroom as alleged. The uniform he wore is common among students in Bayelsa State."
The boy had since been handed over to the Akenfa Divisional Police Station for onward transfer to the State Police Headquaters.

The police also arrested three suspects allegedly involved in the attack on a ‘Corpers' lodge’ in Angalabiri community, Sagbama Local Government Area, in which a corps member hand was cut off. The corps member has been identified as Luntis Julius.

According to the police, the arrest of the suspect was made possible by the indigenes of the community who were shocked by the dastardly acts.

Two among the suspects arrested have been identifies as Mosan Moses Youdougha, 22, and Godswill Vincent, 21. The third suspect arrested by the community is yet to be handed to the police.

The Police Public Relations Officer(PPRO), a Deputy Superintendent of Police, Astimin Butswat, confirmed the arrests and said further investigations were ongoing to arrest a fourth suspect.

Butswat said:  "Around 12 on Monday, the police, with the help of youths of Angalabiri community arrested two persons involved in the attack and robbery of some persons at the corpers' lodge in the area.”

Vigilante member kills three after taking tramadol

Gabriel Efeduku, Ughelli

 An unidentified member of Otokutu community vigilante group, suspected to have taking tramadol, on Saturday, killed members of a social club and a fish seller who attended a burial ceremony at Otokutu Primary School, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.

The victims have been identified as Mr. James Efemine aka Senator, Mr. Sharp Omosohwofa and a fish seller.

According to a reliable source, Efemine, who was rushed to hospital, died after three doctors battled to save his life. 

The source said: “The shooter appeared to have taken tramadol judging by the way he was jumping up and down, while armed with pump action rifle. I guessed it was the drug that caused the shooting and subsequent death of the three people.”

It was also gathered that two among the dead, were members of the Eyerikugbe Social Club, who came for the burial ceremony of another of their member.

The source said: “When the vigilante guy realized he had shot and killed three persons, he immediately escaped. He threatened to shoot those that attempted to stop him from escaping.” 

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Andrew Aniamaka, confirmed the incident. He said that the head of the vigilante had been invited for questioning, while investigations continue.