Five people were arrested on Wednesday in Bayelsa State for allegedly plotting to attack the house of immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan in Yenagoa, the state capital.
The police said the suspects, Asupha Emeka, 34; Ebipre Ebebi, 25; Samuel Joe, 27; Okilo Matthew, 25; and Timiere Matthew, 25, were arrested in a hotel in the Swali area of the town as they were perfecting the plan to attack the former president’s house.
Though the motive for the attack was not immediately known, the police believe it was part of a plot to create tension in the state ahead of Saturday’s supplementary election in the state.
Police Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa State Command, Asinim Butswat, confirmed the arrest adding that the police acted on a tip-off.
“On the January 6, 2016, at about 1500hrs, based on a tip-off, detectives from the Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Vice unit stormed a hotel premises in Swali community, Yenagoa, and arrested five suspects.
“The suspects are Asupha Emeka, Ebipre Ebebi, Samuel Joe, Okilo Matthew and Timiere Matthew.”
He added that the suspects were currently undergoing interrogation and that investigation was ongoing.
However, a security source, who craved anonymity, said the planned attack on Jonathan’s residence was a ploy to create the impression that the opposition was after the life of Jonathan.
He said, “The planned attack on Jonathan’s house was to give an impression of violence ahead of the supplementary election in the state. What the mastermind intends to achieve through that is what I cannot fathom.
“You know this is the time of politics when politicians design all manner of tricks, crisis and strategies to heat up the polity. This is one of those aspects of dangerous politics they are playing.
“The ringleader of this dastardly act, we learnt is a member of Jonathan’s party. The whole plot was contrived to give the impression that the opposition is the one responsible.”
