By Samuel Oyadongha & Emem Idio, Yenagoa

Residents of Ogboinbiri Community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have shut down facilities operated by Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) over an alleged ‘unlawful’ arrest of their chiefs and youth president by the police operatives.

Spokesman of the Bayelsa State Police Command, ASP Musa Muhammed, had in a statement in Yenagoa, confirmed the arrest of six suspects in the community over alleged violence and threats to oil and gas production.

But the angry natives, including; elders, youths and women displaying various placards, demanded the release of their chiefs and other leaders from the police detention.

Recall that the community is embroiled in a leadership tussle, due to the chief’s alleged interest in oil politics, a development that made some chiefs institute a court case against the community.

It was learned that when the chiefs, the CDC Chairman and the youth president went to court for a hearing on Friday, they were arrested outside the courtroom after the court proceedings.

This was said to have angered the natives who reportedly shut down Agip facilities in the area, demanding the immediate release of their chiefs, CDC Chairman and youth president.

A member of the community, Owei Jackson, who spoke after the protest said: “The state government should go and ask the oil company, they know that we are a peaceful people.

“Whenever we disagree with them, we settle it internally. So, the governor should also know that whatever kingship conflict we have, we can settle it internally.

“The matter is already in court, and they should allow the court to take a decision. We are not interested in whatever interest the government has in the matter but what we are demanding as a community is that our kinsmen that have been arrested should be released or else, whatever happens, the world should take it.”

Also speaking, a former woman leader of the community, Mrs. Beauty Okia, said the people of the Ogboinbiri Community have a tradition of living in harmony, and their leaders should be released immediately.

Meantime, the authorities of the state police command have announced the arrest of six suspects in connection with violence and threats to oil and gas production in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.

Spokesman of the Command, ASP Musa Muhammed, in a statement, said: “Following the disturbing violence and threats to oil and gas production in Southern Ijaw LGA, the Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Police Command CP, Alonyenu Francis Idu, swiftly deployed police operatives leading to the arrest of six suspects, namely: Mr Tari Daniel ‘m’ , ‘Mr’ Experience Pere ‘m’ , Mr Tari Okido Jacob ‘m’ , Chief Augustine Okorodo ‘m’ , Chief Ogiori Maclean ‘m’ and chief Moses Okoriwei ‘m’.

“The suspects are undergoing interrogation and detectives are working assiduously to uncover their links to a terrorist cell formation, threats to oil and gas production in Southern Ijaw LGA, promoting native warfare, criminal intimidation, economic sabotage, terrorist financing and conduct likely to cause the breach of the peace in Ogbonbiri community and its environs.”