Gunmen kill ex-militant commander, lieutenant in Bayelsa

Unknown gunmen ambushed and killed an ex-militant leader in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, on Saturday who was identified simply as Commander Ebi.One of the lieutenants of the ex-warlord whose name could not be ascertained as at the time of going to the press was also reportedly killed in the incident that sent passersby and residents scampering for safety.

Nigeria Newspapers gathered that a police officer in mufti was feared dead in the attack that occurred about 8:30am after sustaining gunshot injuries.

The police officer, it was learnt, was travelling in company with the ex-militants in the same Utility Vehicle when the hoodlums struck.

The slain ex-militant commander was said to be of Brass origin, the local government area of the state governor, Chief Timipre Sylva.

It was gathered that before he was killed on Saturday, Ebi was once recently arrested in connection with the attack on the Labour Party’s governorship candidate for the state, Mr. Timi Alaibe.

However, he was said to have escaped from The Gloryland Hospital in Yenagoa where he was receiving treatment under police custody.

The Commissioner of Police for the state, Mr. Musa Aliyu, confirmed the incident and said the police officer shot in the incident was a corporal.

He said, ‘’The ex-militant commander was killed by unknown persons in Yenagoa. He was killed along with another ex-militant. There was a police corporal in their midst. He was shot but was rushed to the hospital,” he said.

He, however, said many police officers were combing the town and its outskirts to fish out the fleeing killers.