Opu-Nembe crisis: Women protest invasion, accuse Sylva of complicity

Aggrieved women in Opu-Nembe community in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have staged a protest against the continued siege by policemen and armed thugs on their community.

They also alleged that the invasion was sponsored by the immediate past Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva.

The protesting women, dressed in black, condemned the combined police and thugs invasion, insisting that the community had not known peace since February 15 this year when three of their youths were allegedly killed by one of Sylva’s allies, Kojo Sam.

Some of the women claimed that the policemen, who were later identified as Federal SWAT team, invaded the community with the joined effort of armed thugs working with Kojo and dressed in police uniform.

Sources in the community also alleged that the Kojo boys were taking refuge at a hotel owned by one Darius Obiene, from where they occasionally launched gun attack on the community.

They also stated that the plot was to take control of the community in order to rig the November 11 governorship election in the state.

Sylva, who is the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the poll, is believed to be fighting back because of the apparent rejection of his ambition by his people for allegedly neglecting the community over the years.

In a trending video, many of the Opu-Nembe women were seen crying, with their spokesperson saying that they belong to the APC but that they no longer support their brother, Sylva, for reportedly unleashing terror on the community.

“This community worked hand-in-hand with Sylva for him to become whatever he is today. But he turned his back against us.

“He has invaded the community as I speak with unknown gunmen wearing security attire and forcing themselves into the community, raping our girls, shooting and arresting our boys.

“Yesterday, they shot the only son of a widow and destroyed property they know nothing about. This community has not known peace since February 15 this year when gunmen killed three youths here”, the woman stated.