By Rasheed Olajide
The All Progressive Congress (APC) secretariat, situated in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State, on the Melford Okilo motorway, was attacked by gunmen yesterday.
According to investigations, a meeting was scheduled to discuss the wave of suspensions from various local government districts that occurred over the weekend.
While the conference was in progress, a group of gunmen broke into the secretariat and began firing at everyone they could see.
A shootout ensued after a second group of gunmen was sent to the secretariat to expel the first group.
In the end, police officers were sent to separate the two groups, and they were successful in apprehending one person.
Following the contentious suspension of prominent party members, the party has been embroiled in crisis.
Meanwhile, the attack on journalists who were on official assignment covering a press briefing in Yenagoa by suspected thugs has been strongly denounced by the Bayelsa State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
In a statement signed by Comrade Ogio Ipigansi, the secretary, and Comrade Samuel Numonengi, the chairman of the council, the union characterised the regrettable incident as ruthless, as well as an effort to stop journalists from fulfilling their rightful obligations to enlighten the public.
To avoid future occurrences of obscene behaviour, the union urged security personnel to look into it and find individuals responsible so they can be prosecuted. To prevent this kind of situation, the Union, while expressing sympathy for those hurt, asked lawmakers to always follow the law.