Tension is rapidly escalating in Bomadi, the headquarters of Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, following the arrest of a serving councillor, Hon. Edougha Felix, and the wife of Hon. Muturu Ebimene by security operatives allegedly acting on the orders of the Council Chairman, Hon. Dagidi Andaye.
Speaking from an undisclosed location, the Deputy Leader of the Bomadi Local Government Legislative Arm, Hon. Barbar Harris, alleged that Hon. Dagidi Andaye mobilised soldiers, Civil Defence operatives and vigilante groups to clamp down on the 15 councillors who recently signed an impeachment notice against him.
Hon. Barbar disclosed that the affected councillors are currently on the run, fearing intimidation, harassment, assault and arrest by security operatives allegedly operating at the behest of the council chairman.
According to him, Hon. Edougha Felix was arrested this morning, while the wife of Hon. Muturu Ebimene was forcefully arrested in her home half-naked after operatives failed to find her husband at home.
“As I am speaking to you, I am currently in hiding because we don’t know who will be the next victim,” Hon. Barbar stated, expressing grave concern over the situation.
A reliable source further revealed that soldiers, Civil Defence personnel and vigilante operatives have been deployed to search for the 15 councillors in their homes and even at places of relaxation, in a sweeping operation aimed at arresting them.
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Hon. Barbar appealed to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, political leaders and critical stakeholders in the state to urgently intervene and prevail on Hon. Dagidi Andaye to immediately halt what he described as an invasion of councillors’ homes.
He stressed that the councillors are only carrying out their constitutional and legislative responsibilities, questioning why the council chairman would allegedly resort to self-help and intimidation instead of due process.
The development has further heightened fears in Bomadi, as residents watch anxiously while elected lawmakers reportedly remain in hiding over what many now describe as a dangerous abuse of power and a threat to democratic governance at the local government level.
All attempts to reach the council chairman as at the time of this report proved abortive.
