Sunday, October 18, 2026

Bandits abduct Bayelsa commissioner

Federal Oparminola was seized at gunpoint at his residence on Thursday.

• January 21, 2022
Federal Oparminola
Federal Oparminola

Federal Oparminola, Bayelsa’s commissioner in charge of trade and commerce, has been abducted by armed assailants, a state official told Peoples Gazette.

The official said a search and rescue team had been activated after the politician was seized at his residence at Otuokpoti, Ogbia Local Government Area. It was not immediately clear if anyone else was abducted alongside and the assailants have not contacted the family to make demands. 

The incident occurred at about 11:00 p.m. on Thursday amidst heavy gunfire. A spokesman for the police in Bayelsa did not immediately return a request seeking comments about the attack.

The gunmen threatened to shoot any witnesses on sight, the official said under anonymity to discuss the matter. He said Governor Douye Diri has received a security briefing.

It came days after Mr Diri boasted that security had improved across Bayelsa, saying the state has done better than others across the oil-rich region long beset by socio-economic hostilities. 

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

Nigerian Bar Association

States

Independence: NBA urges Nigerians to expect better future

The NBA said that ordinary Nigerians should be deriving benefit from the subsidy removal rather than hardship.

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Hindu festival stampede

World

17 killed in stampede at India’s Durga Puja festival

West Bengal’s chief minister Suvendhu Adhikari confirmed a seven-year-old girl was among the people who died in the stampede.

Lagos State Task Force

States

Lagos task force nabs dismissed operative for impersonation, extortion

Mr Akerele said the suspect was detained at Oshodi bus stop after a viral video of his apprehension circulated.

Fuel queue at NNPC filling station [Credit: ThankGod Sabastine/Peoples Gazette]

Politics

APC ‌woman leader defends Tinubu’s 30-day petrol discount

The women’s leader added that the government had distinguished the initiative from the former subsidy regime.

LAWMA clearing waste in Oshodi

States

LAWMA deploys 25 trucks to clear waste in Oshodi

Mr Suleiman said the deployment involved 25 trucks, supported by a working floor that could accommodate four at a time.

Abuloma police division

States

Alleged cultists celebrate at Rivers police outpost they renovated; CP sanctions DPO

The police commissioner has ordered a full investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Residents fetching water from taps

States

Lagos water network serves only 1.03% of 20 million residents: LWC

Mr Anifowoshe said the corporation had an installed water production capacity of about 210 million gallons per day (MGD).