Bayelsa boils as gunmen kill cattle breeders’ leader, three others

Suspected gunmen have killed the chairman, Cattle Breeders Association, Bayelsa State chapter, Alhaji Abdulkarim Jubril, and three other persons said to be his employees.

It was learnt that the incident occurred on Saturday afternoon along the Bayelsa Palm Road in Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state.

A source who accompanied the victims’ bodies to the mortuary of the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, said Jubril was killed on the premises of his private abattoir.

The source, who did not want his name mentioned, said, “The gunmen invaded the place this afternoon and shot him. He was a household name because he was the highest supplier of cows in Bayelsa.

“The gunmen also turned to his boys and killed three of them. It is a sad development. But we are calling for calm because the incident is fresh and requires thorough investigations.”

He expressed confidence that the motive behind the murder would be uncovered by security agencies during their investigations.

He insisted that only investigations would reveal the identities of persons behind the incident, adding that there was no need to panic.

Meanwhile, a ranking police officer has confirmed the incident.

The officer, who craved anonymity because he was not empowered to talk to the media, said Jubril and his boys were sitting and chatting in one of the huts within the abattoir when the gunmen struck.

He, however, said the details were still sketchy, adding that immediately after the shooting, the gunmen fled the scene.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa State Command, Mr. Asinim Butswat, confirmed the incident.

Butswat, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said, “On December 2, 2017, at about 12:30hrs, three unknown gunmen in a Black Mazda 323 car, number-plate yet unknown, went to Azikoro Road by Winners U-Turn, Yenagoa, where one Alhaji Jibril Abdulkarim, the chairman, Cattle Breeders Association, Bayelsa State branch, was discussing with three others, shot at them on their heads and drove off to unknown destination.

“Policemen were immediately deployed for possible arrest.

“The scene was visited by the Police. Three of the victims — one Abiso Abba, Yunusa, (surname unknown), and the third (name unknown), died on the spot, while Alhaji Jibril Abdulkarim was rushed to the hospital for medical attention where he later died.”

The spokesman said there was suspicion of internal wrangling and strife within the association, adding that the police and other security agencies were working on a promising lead for possible arrest of the suspects.

He said the bodies of the victims had been deposited at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, for autopsy.

He said all units had been alerted and efforts were ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects.Punch