Bayelsa: PDP chieftain arrested for illegal firearm possession

Bayelsa: PDP chieftain arrested for illegal firearm possession

The police have arrested one Amadein Tibiebi in Bayelsa State over alleged illegal possession of firearms.

Tibiebi is the Assistant Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party in the oil-rich State.

The ex-militant was arrested on Tuesday by men of Zone 16 of the Nigeria Police and his currently undergoing interrogation.

According to reports, he is being held at the Criminal Investigation Department of the Bayelsa State Police Command due to the lack of a detention facility at Zone 16.

He was previously apprehended in November 2021 for an incident involving one Richard Okon who was arrested for alleged illegal possession of firearms at a wake-keep at the Koluama community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Okon, in a confessional video, had claimed that the gun he was caught with belonged to Tibiebi who he was working with, although nothing was made of the incident.

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A police source said Tibiebi was previously invited by the police, but he allegedly presented fake licences and forged documents and was subsequently released due to his connections.

His present arrest is based on a fresh petition to the police on allegations of threat to life because, according to the source, he was not deterred by the 2021 incident, but had been boastful of his connections.

Another source at Zone 16 disclosed to our correspondent that when he was arrested, Tibiebi called very senior citizens including senators and top law enforcement officers in a bid to avert detention.

“Tibiebi is being investigated for alleged illegal possession of firearms. It is a serious offence, but he has been calling powerful people to go scot-free,” the source said.

Tibiebi is a nephew and chief security officer to a former PDP state chairman, Cleopas Moses, who represented Bayelsa Central Senatorial District at the Ninth Senate.

A community source said, “Tibiebi has been boastful about being untouchable by law enforcement officials because of his connections in the PDP and state government.”

When reached for comments on Wednesday, the Zone 16 Public Relations Officer, Emonena Gunn, confirmed the arrest saying the matter was under investigation, but did not provide further details.

Bayelsa: PDP chieftain arrested for illegal firearm possession