Tragedy strikes Rivers community as Easter Sunday turns deadly

The serene Easter Sunday celebrations in Bayelsa State were marred by violence, as the Swali community in Yenagoa was rocked by a deadly attack that claimed the lives of at least four people.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Bayelsa State Police Command, DSP Musa Mohammed, disclosed that law enforcement officers have swiftly intensified security operations in the area to forestall further violence and ensure the safety of residents.

While rumours initially pointed to cult-related violence, police authorities have not yet officially confirmed any links to cult groups, stating that investigations are ongoing to uncover the motive and those behind the attack.

He called on the public to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies by providing helpful information. Efforts are ongoing to track down the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

However, a community source who spoke on condition of anonymity on Tuesday said that the gunmen armed with AK-47 rifles and other dangerous weapons invaded the community from the nearby river, firing at innocent residents who had just returned from Easter church services.

According to the source, the gunmen did not steal any property but appeared to have come specifically for their targets. He added that most people also sustained injuries from the attack, while other residents are relocating from the community for fear of future attacks.

The Swali community hosts the biggest market in the state. Most federal agencies, such as the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the Federal Secretariat, among others, have their offices located in part of the community designated as a free trade zone.

The lawmaker representing Yenagoa Constituency 1 in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Hon. Chief Ayibanegiyefa Egba, has strongly condemned the deadly attack on Swali Community that claimed the lives of four residents.

Egba, who visited the grieving community on Tuesday, described the attack as shocking and barbaric. She offered her heartfelt sympathy to the families of those killed and the entire Swali community.

The lawmaker called on residents to stay united and alert against outsiders who might cause trouble in their neighbourhood. She urged young people in the area to avoid crime and anything that could endanger their future.