One of the suspected thugs killed in the violence that broke out in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on August 20 was in the wanted list of the state police command, security source said yesterday.
The source said Kelly Ikurusi, who died in the bloody fracas, was among the detainees who broke the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) cell in Yenagoa, the state capital, last November 7.
According to the police, 10 suspected robbers and cultists escaped from SARS custody on the fateful day.
The then Police Commissioner Asuquo Amba said three of the suspects were immediately rearrested.
But nothing was heard about other escapees until recently when suspected thugs of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) clashed in Brass.
Among the three persons killed in the Brass violence, were Ikurusi and Peter George; Oputongha Pogo, Moses Blacky and Toinpre Sorbo were injured.
The Caretaker Committee Chairman of Brass Local Government Area, Victor Isaiah, alleged that a member of the House of Assembly, Isreal Sunny-Goli allegedly armed the thugs to kill him.
He said the thugs died in the violence which occurred when members of the Brass Vigilance group foiled their attempts to kill him.
Sunny-Goli denied the allegation, saying the clash was part of a desperate script to wrest the control of Brass Constituency from the APC ahead of next year’s general elections.
“I did not win my mandate through the barrel of the gun. I won without killing a soul. It is on record that APC won in Brass without violence,” he said.
The Bayelsa State government said it had begun investigation into the violence which left three youths dead and many others injured in the local government.
The government pledged to arrest and prosecute the hoodlums, including high-profile politicians fingered in the bloody clash.
Speaking at the Government House in Yenagoa, Deputy Governor John Jonah said the nine-hour curfew (9 p.m to 6 a.m) imposed in the area remained in force.
Jonah said preliminary investigation showed that the mayhem was sponsored by some highly-placed individuals for political purposes.
He said the state government directed the law enforcement agencies to ensure a thorough investigation into the activities of the hoodlums and ensure the prosecution of persons indicted, irrespective of their status.
Jonah urged the people to remain law-abiding, insisting that the government would take necessary lawful measures to maintain peace, law and order.
APC Publicity Secretary Doifie Buokoribo accused the state government of cover-up in the killing of its two members on Brass Island
Buokoribo described as wicked and criminal the attempt by the government to exonerate Isaiah from the killings.
He accused Jonah of bias and not being bold enough to caution the caretaker chairman.