Women in Bayelsa protest youth arrests and clash with soldiers

By Samuel Oyadongha

YENAGOA — Tension has risen in the Biseni clan of Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, after a group of youths was arrested and a clash erupted between protesting women and security forces, leaving at least four people injured.

The dispute began when contractors working for Renaissance, the company that previously operated as Shell, filed a petition with the Inspector‑General of Police. They alleged that several youths in the community had committed vandalism, arson, cultism and other offences.

The petition was forwarded to the Zone 16 Police Command, which led to the arrest of the suspects. A court later ordered that the youths be remanded to the Okaka Correctional Facility.

Families of the detained youths reacted strongly. Mothers and sisters of the suspects blocked the only access road to the oil‑producing community, demanding the release of their relatives.

The road blockade disrupted traffic in the area, leaving several company vehicles—including trucks that service an oil rig—stranded.

A government official, speaking to Vanguard, said he was attending the Ogbia Diocese Synod on behalf of the Deputy Governor when he received word of the protest.

He explained that he asked for permission to leave the event and went to the community to try to persuade the women to reopen the road.

“I quickly took permission and rushed over to see how I could talk to the women to leave the road. Because of the blockade, company vehicles, including trucks servicing a rig in the area, were stranded,” he said.

The official added that by the time he arrived, a tactical team from the Bayelsa State Police Command headquarters had already been deployed to the scene, and he spent more than two hours engaging the protesters in dialogue.

However, the situation escalated when soldiers arrived at the location.

“Some soldiers, I don’t know who brought them there, came in and there was an altercation. The soldiers were shooting, while the women responded by throwing stones,” the official said.

The clash reportedly left about four women injured.

One of the injured was first taken to a cottage hospital built by the current Chairman of Yenagoa Local Government Area, but she was later referred to another medical facility after the hospital could not manage her condition.

In response to the incident, Yenagoa Local Government Area Chairman Mr. Bulodisiye Ndiwari said he had been in contact with the Bayelsa State Police Command and the Assistant Inspector‑General of Police in charge of Zone 16 to prevent further escalation.

“We are talking. I have been in touch with the command headquarters and the AIG, Zone 16. We have been discussing the matter, and it has also been brought to the attention of the state government,” he said.

Ndiwari expressed optimism that the crisis would soon be resolved and that efforts were underway to facilitate the release of the detained youths.

“I’m talking with them to see how we can prevent the matter from escalating beyond where it is. I believe by tomorrow, we’ll work hard to resolve it,” he added.

The incident highlights ongoing tensions in the oil‑rich Biseni Kingdom, where residents have repeatedly complained of environmental degradation, underdevelopment and inadequate social amenities despite years of oil exploration.

The community has previously staged protests over environmental pollution, unemployment and other oil‑related concerns.

Attempts to obtain comments from the Bayelsa State Police Command and Renaissance were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.