There is apprehension in the camp of former Niger Delta militants following an invitation extended to some of them by the Bayelsa State Police Command for a meeting ahead of the January 9 supplementary governorship election in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area and 101 polling units in six local government areas in the state.
The Sun reports that sources close to the former militant leaders say they might boycott the meeting scheduled for today (Monday) following fears that the invitation was a prelude to their arrest ahead of the election.
Two former militant leaders, known to be supporters of the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, reportedly expressed reservations with the timing and agenda of the meeting as it could be a ploy to arrest them.
It was gathered that the two former militant leaders and some other former militant leaders have already met with their supporters to take a final decision on the attendance of the meeting.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Nasiru Oki had, through the head of the State Intelligence Bureau, Ondo Gbekumo, summoned a meeting with Paul Eris (aka Ogunbos) and Africanus Ukprasia, both from Southern Ijaw council area.
The letter had stated that attendance at the meeting was mandatory as the issue for discussion borders on threat to security.
This is happening at a time the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has called for the arrest and prosecution of General Africa, Ogunbos and others, including “compromised law enforcement agencies” for allegedly spearheading and supervising the brutalisation and killing of voters during and after the December 5 poll.
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