Gunmen Attack Goodluck Jonathan’s Home In Otuoke, Kill 1 Soldier, Injure Others

[Edoman]

Unknown armed men have attacked the home of former President Goodluck Jonathan in Otuoke, Bayelsa State.

Sources in Otuoke, Bayelsa State said the gunmen, who struck at about 3am, killed one soldier, injured one while another one was taken away to unknown destination.

Consequently, all roads in Otuoke/Otuaba is currently blocked by military personnel, with movement of residents restricted.

More details soon.

[Edoman]

Ex-president Goodluck Jonathan confirms attack on his home in Bayelsa






Former President Jonathan has confirmed an attack by unknown armed men near his country home in Otuoke, Bayelsa State in the early hours of today Tuesday December 24th.
 
LIB earlier today shared the story of how gunmen who rode on a speedboat, landed at Jonathan's country home and engaged the soldiers stationed there in a gun battle. A soldier and three of the gunmen were killed during the attack. Read here.
 

In a statement issued by his media aide, Ikechukwu Eze, the former president said he was not in his residence during the attack.
 
The statement reads

 “A security post stationed near the Otuoke residence of former President Dr Goodluck Ebele  Jonathan in Bayelsa State was attacked by unknown gunmen early Tuesday morning.

The hoodlums who came in with about five engine boats stormed the security post located about 100 metres away from former President Jonathan’s residence in his hometown Otuoke by 1:30 am on Tuesday and attempted to take away a  gunboat belonging to the military stationed at the creek beside the residence. They were however resisted by gallant soldiers who engaged them in a firefight.

The gunmen who couldn’t stand the firepower of the military were forced to beat a retreat. One soldier, unfortunately, lost his life in the fight while another was injured. The injured soldier who is currently receiving treatment at a medical facility in Yenagoa is in a stable state.
The former President who was not in Otuoke at the time of the attack, however, returned to his village early this morning to assess the situation.

Dr Jonathan promptly condemned the attack and reassured his people that there was no cause for alarm. The former President has also condoled with the  family of the deceased soldier, the military and has urged the concerned security authorities to swing into action and bring the culprits to book.”

[Edoman]

The attempt to murder Goodluck Jonathan and the attack on his home is the most dangerous event that has taken place in the last 5 years - FFK






Former President, Goodluck Jonathan's country home in Otuoke, Bayelsa State was attacked by unknown armed men in the early hours of today Tuesday December 24th.
 
Reacting to the incident, former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode Tweeted, 'the attempt to murder Jonathan and the attack on his home is the most dangerous event that has taken place in the last 5 years.If the attempt had succeeded it would have set Nigeria on fire.I commend those that were killed protecting him.I urge the FG to beef up his security'.

[Edoman]

Buhari calls Jonathan over gunmen attack at his Bayelsa home






President Buhari has reportedly called former President Goodluck Jonathan, over the gunmen attack at his country home in Otuoke, Bayelsa state. 
 
Buahri who commiserated with the families of the dead soldier and the injured during attack, reassured Jonathan of his safety and security as well as those of all Nigerians. 
 
The statement released by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu reads in part; 
 

“While commending the soldiers on guard for bravely repelling the attack, the President condoled with family members as well as officers and men of the Nigerian Army over the loss of one of the guards.
“President Buhari assured that the protection of the life of the former leader and all citizens of the country will continue to be the major preoccupation of his administration."

 

 
 
 

[Edoman]

My attackers must be arrested and prosecuted – Goodluck Jonathan






Nigeria’s former President, Goodluck Jonathan has called for the arrest and prosecution of gunmen who attacked his home in Otuoke, Bayelsa, South South Nigeria.  
 
He also thanked Nigerians for the continuing show of solidarity and sympathy following the Christmas eve attack by unknown gunmen in his country home in Otuoke, Bayelsa State.  
 
The former President who stated this while conducting sympathisers round the scene of the attack on Friday also commended the Nigerian military for their gallantry in repelling the attack by engaging the assailants in a fierce gun duel that unfortunately claimed the life of a soldier.
 
Jonathan noted that since the assailants attacked his marine security post on December 24, 2019 many Nigerians of different social status, including President Muhammadu Buhari, state Governors and political party leaders as well as foreigners had either visited him or called to express their heartfelt sympathy over the unfortunate attack in his house.  
 
He also reiterated his call on the concerned security authorities to expose and bring the criminals to book as a means of ensuring that such dare-devil criminality did not happen again in his community or any other place in the country.  
 
On December 24, 019, the assailants had stormed Jonathan’s country home in about five engine boats and attacked the marine security post located within the periphery of the residence at about 1:30 am on Tuesday and sought to take control of a gunboat belonging to the military.  
They were however resisted by gallant soldiers who engaged them in a firefight. The gunmen who couldn’t stand the firepower of the military were forced to beat a retreat.

[Edoman]

Goodluck Jonathan visits soldier injured during gunmen’s attack at his Bayelsa home






Former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife Patience on Sunday December 29, visited a soldier who was injured during the gunmen attack at his residence in Otuoke, Bayelsa state. 
 
During the visit at the hospital where Lance Corporal Umar Muttaka was receiving treatment, the former President commended him and other security operatives over the bravery they exhibited during the attack. He stated that they stood firm and fought for the interest and security of the nation.
 

 
It was gathered that the injured soldier is responding to treatment as security has been beefed up at the residence of the former President, both in Yenagoa and Otuoke since the attack. 
 

[Edoman]

Kinsmen to security agencies: Unmask sponsors, attackers of Jonathan’s residence







•Former President, Goodluck Jonathan

 Leading kinsmen of former President Goodluck Jonathan have expressed worries over the silence of security agencies after the attack on the courtyard of former President Goodluck Jonathan in Bayelsa State.

The kinsmen, who described the incident as unimaginable, urged security agencies to expedite investigation, arrest the attackers and principally their sponsors.

Some gunmen had on December 24 killed a soldier on guard and wounded others when they attacked the courtyard situated close to the bank of the river at Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.

The gunmen came through the waterways on five speedboats and opened fire on the soldiers manning a gunboat attached to the former President.

The military Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe (ODS) vowed to unmask the gunmen.

The spokesman of ODS, Maj. Jonah Unuakhalu, regretted that while repelling the attack, one of the soldiers died while another was injured but was responding to treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

Former President Jonathan also condemned the incident in a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Ikechukwu Eze, and called for investigation and arrest of the perpetrators.

Also President Muhammadu Buhari ordered security agencies to fish out persons behind the dastardly act.
Jonathan and his wife, Patience, visited Lance Corporal Umar Muttaka, one of the soldiers on guard at his residence in Otuoke who sustained injuries during the incident.

Jonathan, who visited the injured soldier in an undisclosed hospital in Yenagoa, wished him quick recovery and commended the bravery of the security men on duty in his house, who stood firm and fought for the interest and security of the nation.

It was gathered that security around Jonathan had been tightened and security has also been beefed up in his residence following the incident.
But some kinsmen, who spoke on the incident yesterday, said they would not accept any investigation that would not lead to the arrest of the assailants and those who sent them.

A leading voice from Ogbia and public commentator, Wisdom Ikuli, said they were disappointed that nothing had been heard about persons who carried out the attack.

Acknowledging that the security agencies could be working discreetly to unmask the identities of the perpetrators, Ikuli insisted that the attackers were targeting the former President.

He noted that both the sponsors and the perpetrators of the ct must be persons within the state who understood the environment and knew the movement of the former President.
He said prior to the election, the former President moved freely without a record of any incident and wondered why he had become a target after the poll.

He asked the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Department of Security Service (DSS) to take the matter seriously.

He said: “The attack on the house of the former president is very condemnable. Some people said they just attacked his security. But f they had overrun the security, what do you think would have happened?

“If the enemies attack your security men at the gate and overrun them, are you not going to be the victim? 


The Nation

[Edoman]

I'm still traumatized by the death of soldier who was shot at my house - Jonathan






Former President Goodluck Jonathan has disclosed that he is still traumatized by the death of a soldier who was shot by unknown gunmen who attacked his home in Otuoke, Bayelsa State on Christmas day eve. 
 
Jonathan revealed this while hosting members of the executive council of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). He also expressed worry over the insecurity witnessed across the country. 
 
The former President said; 
 

“I thank you for coming to sympathise with me and my family. The fact that a soldier lost his life in that attack traumatizes me. That young man wouldn’t have died, the way he did, if he was not protecting me.

“Whenever people come to me, just as you people have come, to talk about that attack, I feel worried about the general society.

“Whenever I consider that people could do that to a former President who has reasonable security guarding him, my mind reaches out to the rest of Nigerians who do not have that level of protection.

"I am worried that so many people are becoming victims of sporadic shootings, kidnappings and so on. I believe that the country will get over the kind of insecurity it currently faces.”