One person on Saturday died while sixteen others sustained injuries after thugs attacked members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at a rally in Sagbama area of Bayelsa.
A resident in Sagbama Local Government Area who witnessed the incident told NAN that about 15 thugs used dangerous weapons to disperse people at the event.
According to him, the intervention of the police prevented the situation from degenerating further.
“The governor of Bayelsa who is the leader of rival PDP hails from Sagbama and the place is considered a base of PDP and it is the rivalry that played out and went sour,” one witness said.
Confirming the incident, DSP Asinim Butswat, Spokesman of Bayelsa Police Command, in a statement to NAN said one of the suspected thugs was arrested,
“On Saturday evening, thugs disrupted APC campaign rally at Tungbabiri, Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
“The thugs numbering about 15 disrupted and attacked APC party faithful at a Political rally at Tungbabiri.
“ In the ensuing melee, one Braye Embikorobiri of Tungbabiri Community sustained critical injuries and later died.
“Two other victims, names yet unknown were critically injured and are responding to treatment in the hospital.
“One suspect, Mr Isaac Abrowei, 42, from Bolou-Orua, but resident at Tungbabiri has been arrested.
“The thugs who masterminded the act and their alleged sponsor have been identified and the Police have launched a manhunt to arrest them,” Butswat said.
