Panic has spread across the Amarata community in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, after a serving police officer, Inspector Obot Godwin, was brutally murdered by hoodlums in the early hours of Tuesday, August 19, 2025.
The incident, which happened at about 6 a.m., has caused residents to be confused and fearful.
According to accounts, the officer had only stepped out to buy some medication before he was accosted by suspected criminals.
Amarata, a densely populated neighbourhood of Yenagoa, has long been troubled by insecurity, cult-related clashes, and violent robberies, making it one of the most volatile parts of the state capital.
Witnesses revealed that the hoodlums dispossessed Inspector Obot of his mobile phone. He reportedly pleaded with the attackers to return the device in a desperate appeal.
However, instead of sparing him, they struck him on the head, leading to his instant death. The officer’s killing has since triggered outrage and heightened tension in the area.
Following the killing, operatives of the Bayelsa State Police Command launched an aggressive raid in Amarata, particularly around OMPADEC Street and its adjoining neighbourhoods.
Eyewitnesses said security personnel broke into houses, arrested residents indiscriminately, and fired shots into the air. Tear gas was also released, causing schoolchildren, traders, and ordinary families to run for cover.
Shops were hurriedly shut, many households locked their doors, while some frightened residents abandoned their homes. What should have been a targeted operation to track down the killers, locals argued, turned into a community-wide crackdown.
One anonymous resident said, “Windows were smashed during the raid. Men, women, and even young boys were taken away. The community has been left in fear of further violence. We don’t know who will be next.”
Another resident, a tailor, expressed frustration over the unending cycle of insecurity: “I am tired. Every time, we continue to run. This morning we started running again. They just killed somebody. Even our community chief has been arrested.
“The police threatened to return in the evening to arrest more people. We live in fear and don’t know what to do anymore.”
Priye Julius, a broadcaster with Radio Bayelsa who lives in the neighbourhood, also confirmed the tense situation:
“It’s true. I am still at home and observing the situation as of noon. The place is calm, but people are still terrified.”
Another resident narrated how the police took away two men from his mini estate:
“Two people were forcefully taken away — a businessman whose wife works in the bank and another young man employed at Bayelsa Park.
“The police broke into houses and carried people away, both men and women. Everyone is unsettled.”
The events have deepened long-standing frustrations in Amarata, where residents have repeatedly complained about rising violent crimes and the seeming indifference of security agencies.
Locals argue that the authorities failed to address the worsening insecurity until the killing of one of their own officers.
Community members now worry that the situation could spiral into a more exhaustive breakdown of law and order.
With shops closed, businesses disrupted, and families fleeing for safety, the once-bustling neighbourhood has been thrown into an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty.
Observers warn that if the situation is not carefully handled, it could inflame tensions further, especially in a state capital already grappling with multiple security challenges.
However, the Bayelsa State Police Command has confirmed the incident and assured residents that the situation is under control.
Spokesperson for the command, Musa Mohammed, described the killing as a serious matter and said that police teams had been deployed to restore calm.
“Yes, it is a serious matter. The area is calm. Police teams are on the ground, and investigations are ongoing to arrest the suspected killers,” Mohammed stated.
He added that the command remained committed to uncovering those behind the officer’s death and restoring confidence in the security of the community.