Tension in Bayelsa community as women protest arrest of youths, clash with soldiers

By Samuel Oyadongha

YENAGOA — Tension is mounting in the Biseni clan of Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State following the arrest of several youths and a confrontation between protesting women and security personnel that reportedly left at least four people injured.

The crisis reportedly began after contractors working for Renaissance, formerly Shell, petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, accusing some youths in the community of vandalism, arson, cultism and other offences.

The petition was subsequently referred to the Zone 16 Police Command, leading to the arrest of the suspects, who were later remanded at the Okaka Correctional Facility by a court order.

The arrests sparked outrage among families of the detained youths, prompting mothers and sisters of the suspects to stage a protest by blocking the only access road to the oil-producing community and demanding their release.

The road blockade disrupted movement in the area, leaving several company vehicles, including trucks servicing an oil rig, stranded.

A government official, who spoke to Vanguard, said he was attending the Ogbia Diocese Synod on behalf of the Deputy Governor when he received information about the protest.

According to him, he sought permission to leave the event and proceeded to the community in an effort to persuade the women to reopen the road.

“I quickly took permission and rushed over to see how I could talk to the women to leave the road. Because of the blockade, company vehicles, including trucks servicing a rig in the area, were stranded,” he said.

The official disclosed that by the time he arrived, a tactical team from the Bayelsa State Police Command headquarters had already been deployed to the scene, and he spent more than two hours engaging the protesters in dialogue.

However, the situation escalated after soldiers arrived at the location.

“Some soldiers, I don’t know who brought them there, came in and there was an altercation. The soldiers were shooting, while the women responded by throwing stones,” the official said.

The clash reportedly left about four women injured.

One of the injured victims was initially taken to a cottage hospital built by the current Chairman of Yenagoa Local Government Area but was later referred to another medical facility after the hospital was unable to manage her condition.

Reacting to the incident, the Chairman of Yenagoa Local Government Area, Mr. Bulodisiye Ndiwari, said he had been in contact with the Bayelsa State Police Command and the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 16 to prevent further escalation.

“We are talking. I have been in touch with the command headquarters and the AIG, Zone 16. We have been discussing the matter, and it has also been brought to the attention of the state government,” he said.

Ndiwari expressed optimism that the crisis would soon be resolved, adding that efforts were underway to facilitate the release of the detained youths.

“I’m talking with them to see how we can prevent the matter from escalating beyond where it is. I believe by tomorrow, we’ll work hard to resolve it,” he added.

The incident underscores lingering tensions in the oil-rich Biseni Kingdom, where residents have repeatedly complained of environmental degradation, underdevelopment and inadequate social amenities despite years of oil exploration.

The community has previously staged protests over environmental pollution, unemployment and other oil-related concerns.

Efforts to obtain comments from the Bayelsa State Police Command and Renaissance were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

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