They further alleged that mobile communication networks in Okpoama were deliberately shut down during the attack to prevent distress calls from reaching security agencies.
There is mounting anger in the Okpoama Kingdom, Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, after armed thugs invaded the venue of the Chiefs Council meeting, disrupting proceedings and throwing the community into chaos.
The meeting, which was holding at the community town hall, was violently interrupted by attackers allegedly sponsored by a faction loyal to former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Timipre Sylva, who lost the Chiefs Council elections in April 2025.
Some chiefs who witnessed the incident described the invasion as “pre-planned and well-coordinated.” According to them, the attackers were seen holding a long meeting at a local hotel before storming the town hall.
They further alleged that mobile communication networks in Okpoama were deliberately shut down during the attack to prevent distress calls from reaching security agencies.
A source close to the Chiefs Council confirmed in Yenagoa that the council was billed to hold its second scheduled meeting of the year on August 28 and 29, 2025, before it was forcefully disrupted.
VIDEO: Armed Thugs Allegedly Loyal To Ex-Minister Sylva Invade Bayelsa Community Chiefs Council Meeting pic.twitter.com/Z6CpKFlgJc
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) September 5, 2025
“But a faction of the Chiefs Council that lost the Chiefs Council election which was held in April 2025 but are loyal to ex-Governor Timipre Sylva who is also from the community, decided to sabotage the meeting by convincing the former Minister to prevail on the State Commissioner of Police Mr Idu, to stop the meeting because it posed a security threat to the community,” the source said.
“However, the CP who ordered the police in Twon-Brass and Okpoama to stop the meeting late on the night of August 27, later rescinded the order by the morning of the 28th.”
“Following that new order, the police and Joint Task Force deployed to the venue of the meeting to provide security, only to be confronted by a group of hostile youths who turned out to be mostly workers of the pipeline protection outfit, Tantita Security from neighbouring Ewoama and Okpoama,” the source said.
“These youths locked up the Town Hall, venue of the meeting, on the orders of the CDC Chairman, Chief Dautibi Okolai-Eric, a well-known crony of ex-Governor Sylva,” one of the sources said.
Sensing the likelihood of violence, the Chiefs were said to have relocated their meeting to the private residence of the Chairman of the Council, High Chief Nathan Egba-Dienagha.
Findings later revealed that while the session was ongoing at the Chairman’s residence, an order allegedly came from Abuja directing the Tantita mob to “storm High Chief Egba-Dienagha’s residence and scatter the meeting.”
Days after the incident, a viral video surfaced on social media showing three individuals leading suspected thugs into the Chairman’s residence. The footage also captured scenes of property being destroyed as the Chiefs’ meeting was violently disrupted.
Indigenes of Okpoama, who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed shock that despite the presence of a large contingent of security personnel in the community, neither the town hall nor the Chairman’s residence was secured to allow the Chiefs to hold their meeting in peace.
Some embattled members of the Okpoama Chiefs Council alleged that “several calls were placed to Supol Julius, the DPO of Okpoama; Supol Emmanuel, the DPO of Brass; and the JTF Commander in the area, all of whom were in Okpoama during the attack, but the calls yielded no response.”
They further confirmed that shortly after the assault on the Chairman’s residence, security operatives arrested the principal figure captured in the viral video, identified as one Jarule.
However, he was allegedly released on the orders of the Regent, High Chief Paul Briggs Omubo-Suobagha, whom some community members accused of “having a hand in the attack.”
Sources claimed the Regent prevented the security personnel from taking the suspects away.
When contacted, the Chairman of the Okpoama Kingdom Council of Chiefs, High Chief Nathan Egba-Dienagha, confirmed the attack on his residence while the meeting was ongoing.
He, however, refrained from naming anyone as being responsible, saying he “cannot say who was behind it yet, as I’m awaiting the outcome of the police investigation into the matter.”
