#Bayelsa decides: Residents scared as arms, grenades seized

As the people of Bayelsa State go to the polls today to elect a governor to lead them for another four years, many residents have expressed fear of violence in the state, even as the police has assured that it would deal ‘decisively’ with any violent conduct.

The tension was more pronounced in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, one of the eight council areas of the state, where residents accused militants of threatening to unleash mayhem in the place.

Even some security operatives have also expressed apprehension following their posting to the Bayelsa Local Government Area, saying it is known to be volatile during election periods.

There were allegations that some hoodlums had already sewn phony police and military uniforms with the intention of unleashing mayhem during the election.

There have also been rumours that some militants threatened that they would deal with anybody who votes for a particular party,

Meanwhile, the military Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta said it has recovered hand grenades, and AK 47 rifle magazines, among other items from some people suspected to be political thugs bent on disrupting the conduct of the exercise.

Read also: #Bayelsadecides: PDP, APC lock horns over oil wells

Major General Alani Okunlola, the Task Force Commander, said on Friday, that the seized items included 36 hand grenades, two AK 47 rifle magazines, a pair of military uniform, combat boots and a bag containing personal belongings.

According to him, the weapons and other items were recovered from five suspected political thugs during an intensive patrol of Mansonkri Fishing Camp, Southern Ijaw Creek in Nembe and Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

He added that the arrest of the suspects was made on Thursday in their hideouts in Okaka, Yenagoa, the state capital.

Okunlola added that preliminary investigation was ongoing to determine the mission of the five arrested suspects.

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