From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Monarch of Oluasiri community, Ibedaowei of Oluasiri clan in Nembe Local Government Srea of Bayelsa State, Chiefson Iyerite Awululu yesterday escaped assignation attempt when five armed men invaded his house along Otiotio Road, Yenagoa.
The assailants were said to have scaled the fence of his residence and after cutting the burglary proof gained entrance into the house without any resistance.
The 56-year-old traditional ruler was attacked in his bedroom with machetes and left to die by his assailants in the pool of his blood.
After they had left, family members contacted the police that later moved him to an undisclosed hospital where doctors battled to save his life.
Some family members of the monarch, who confirmed the incident, disclosed that the bandits did not wear masks to conceal their identities, adding that after Awululu had been rushed to the hospital, the assassins returned to see if their victim had died.
According to a witness, one of the siblings of the paramount ruler escaped through the fence in his boxer shorts during the attack to alert the men of the JTF, who were few metres away
“But rather responding to his distress cry, they resorted to asking multiple questions and failed to respond,” he said.
Meanwhile, residents of the area are reading political undertones into the attack, alleging that it might be connected with the fallout of testimonies given at the Bayelsa elections petitions tribunal.
However, a family member dismissed the attack as politically motivated, adding that Awululu was not a politician.
Contacted on the development, spokesman of the Bayelsa Police Command, Butwat Asimin, confirmed the incident and said: “On 19, at about 0315hrs, three men armed with machetes went to the residence of one Chiefson Iyerite Awululu, the paramount ruler of Oluasiri at Otiotio Road, Yenagoa. Cut off the burglary proof, stole N9,000 and wounded the king with the machetes. The victim was taken to the hospital and he is responding to treatment. Efforts have been intensified to arrest the fleeing suspects. Investigation is ongoing.”