...His Commander Died Protecting Him, He Sold His Commander’s Properties and Left The Wife and Children With Nothing.

A former militant fighter and relative of ex-militant Ogumbos, Olotu Zibiye, has accused the former commander of allegedly using intimidation, violence and political influence to control the Peremabiri community in Bayelsa State.

Zibiye, who described himself as both an insider and a victim, made the allegations in a statement calling on the Bayelsa State Government, the Federal Government and security agencies to intervene in the community’s long-running crisis and prevent further loss of lives.

According to him, Peremabiri had suffered years of communal conflict before residents began seeking peace and reconciliation. He said that during the height of militancy in the Niger Delta, members of the community embraced Ogumbos and supported his activities, including his fighters and their families.

Zibiye said he and others worked closely with Ogumbos during the struggle and eventually surrendered their weapons under the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

He alleged, however, that their loyalty was later abused and that former fighters were manipulated and deprived of the benefits they expected from the amnesty programme.

According to Zibiye, Ogumbos allegedly approached the Amnesty Office with claims concerning the banking details of several former fighters, resulting in the suspension of their payments.

He alleged that while the Amnesty Office continued making payments to eligible beneficiaries, many of Ogumbos' former fighters were no longer receiving their stipends.

Zibiye said some of the affected former fighters approached Ogumbos to plead for their Amnesty stipends. He alleged that Ogumbos temporarily paid some of them before stopping the payments, claiming that their amnesty funds had been suspended.

The former fighter further accused Ogumbos of allegedly banishing some members of the community then who disagreed with him and using loyalists to intimidate those who challenged his authority.

He also alleged that some of his former colleagues had been killed and called for the relevant authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the reported deaths.

Zibiye said his concerns were particularly personal because he is Ogumbos' first cousin. He recalled the crisis of January 3, 2021, during which, according to him, his elder brother, Ebipade Olotu, was killed.

Zibiye described his late brother as a General Commander who served under Ogumbos and died while protecting him.

He alleged that following his brother's death, Ogumbos did not provide support to the deceased man's children.

He further claimed that properties belonging to the late Ebipade Olotu were subsequently taken and sold by Ogumbos, who allegedly kept the money for himself, including some properties that were allegedly sold to a man identified as Waziri from Ekewe.

Zibiye said he confronted Ogumbos over the matter but later decided to step back in the interest of peace.

“We are pleading with the Bayelsa State Government, all the security agencies and the Federal Government to come to our aid,” he said, urging the authorities to intervene before the situation deteriorates further.

Zibiye also accused Ogumbos of allegedly using his political connections without adequately advancing the interests of Peremabiri residents.

He claimed that during the administration of former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva, Ogumbos had access to the Government House and was regarded as an influential stakeholder in the Bomo Clan.

Despite that influence, Zibiye alleged, people from Peremabiri did not receive meaningful political appointments or representation through Ogumbos.

He claimed that the community was denied opportunities in government institutions and political positions, including representation in the Niger Delta Development Commission and the Presidential Amnesty Office.

Zibiye further alleged that Ogumbos had previously argued that there were no sufficiently qualified people from Peremabiri to occupy certain political positions.

He rejected what he described as the idea of allowing one individual to determine the political and social future of the entire community.

“Peremabiri is too big to be held hostage by one individual,” he said, insisting that the community should be allowed to chart its own course.

He said the community had already endured enough violence, displacement and hardship and should not be forced to repeat the cycle.

Zibiye is calling for a full investigation into the alleged diversion of the monthly stipends by Ogumbos into his personal account and is urging the law to take its course, insisting that every dime Ogumbos allegedly took from them should be returned.