Youth leader loses his life in Bayelsa land dispute

A 29-year-old man identified simply as Tari, popularly known as Heavyweight, has allegedly been unalived with machete during a clash between two rival youth factions in Diema community, Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The deceased, said to be from Opu-Nembe (Bassambiri) in Nembe Local Government Area, was reportedly a member of a youth faction loyal to His Highness Ingo Ikele, the Amayanabo of Diema-Brass.

Community sources told punch that the crisis erupted when Ikele allegedly directed youths loyal to him to join an inspection visit to a parcel of land reportedly earmarked for a crude oil tank farm by an unidentified oil company.

However, the youths were allegedly confronted by another faction loyal to His Highness Baratuaipre Amaene, described by sources as a rival traditional ruler in the community.

The disagreement reportedly degenerated into a violent confrontation, during which Tari sustained machete injuries that eventually led to his death.

Sources close to the Divisional Police Headquarters disclosed that the victim was rushed to a hospital for medical attention but was pronounced dead on arrival by medical personnel. 

The spokesperson for the Bayelsa State Police Command,  DSP Musa Mohammed, confirmed that normalcy had been restored to the area.

He added that an investigation was ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the clash.