Ex-militants in gun battle over amnesty welfare packages

There was pandemonium in Bilabiri community in Ekeremor Local Council of Bayelsa State following gun battle between armed ex-militant youths engaged in a revolt against a leading ex-militant leader, Commander Pius, over alleged diversion of welfare packages from the Amnesty Implementation Office.

The early morning gun battle, according to community sources, is between loyalists of the embattled ex-leader and the aggrieved youths from his camp located in the area.

It was gathered that the shooting caused panic and desertion of the community by residents out of fear of getting killed.

A community source told The Guardian that the gunmen who stormed the coastal community in about two speed boats were after a former militant leader simply identified as 'Gen' Pius.

Pius, according to a source, is an indigene of Egbema-Angalabiri who grew up at Bilabiri II. He was said to have visited Bilabiri, his adopted hometown, to spend the weekend when the gunmen suspected to be his former 'boys' struck at about 2a.m shortly after the electricity generator supplying power to the community was switched off.