Governor Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa State narrowly escaped attack Monday, when a team of mobile police men and soldiers attached to him forced suspected armed robbers to beat a retreat at Elele, a border community between Rivers and Bayelsa State .
During the over 20 minutes gun battle between the security agents and the armed robbers lasted, Chief Sylva, who was in his official vehicle, was reportedly surrounded by the State Security Service (SSS) operatives.
This is coming less than 24-hours after the governor dared militants when he successfully hosted officials of the Ministry of the Niger Delta Affairs led by its Minister, Chief Ufot Ekaette at a stakeholders’ forum in Yenagoa, the state capital. The governor had during the forum said that the militants cannot be more than 2,000, while the state population is over two million.
Sources say Chief Sylva, who was on his way to the Port Harcourt International Airport about 3.30pm to connect a flight to Abuja for the Governors’ Forum meeting had deliberately avoided the use of flight from Yenagoa due to recent flurry of criticism from opposition parties in the state.
Daily Champion learnt that the governor’s convoy ran into a blockade along the ever busy Elele road mounted by unknown persons suspected to be robbers.
The suspected robbers, who used a tanker to erect a blockade then gathered at a spot in about 20 motorcycles and opened fire as soon as they sighted the convoy of the governor, but the security operatives attached to the governor repelled the attack.
But Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Ola Doifie in a statement said, “at about 3.30 p.m. today, 26 January 2009, in Elele, Rivers State , Governor Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa State and his official convoy helped rescue some hapless road users who were being dealt with by armed robbers. The governor was on his way to attend the Governors’ Forum meeting scheduled for 8pm. in Abuja on Monday”.
He further said that “following a tip-off about an armed robbery operation ahead which had reportedly lasted for about 20 minutes, the armed and security forces attached to the governor opened fire on the suspected robbers.
Based on superior fire power, the robbers fled into the near-by bush. At the scene of the incident were several bags and other personal belongings including GSM phones. Also at the scene were about 20 motorbikes, which were abandoned by the suspected robbers, who had apparently commandeered a trailer to block the road,” Dolfie said.