A nine-year-old girl, a pupil of Gbaraun Community Primary School in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, was Tuesday killed by suspected by pirates.
The brigands, it was learnt, allegedly shot the girl dead as they operated along the community’s waterways.
The killing of the girl, it was gathered, spurred a protest in the community, leading to the apprehension of one of the suspected pirates by some of the protesters.
Sources explained that the suspect had allegedly facilitated the movement of the pirates into the neighbourhood from Ikebiri in the local government area.
The pirates, according to sources, allegedly, while snatching a speedboat, shot sporadically into the air, allegedly gunning the girl down when she peeped to ascertain the cause of the gunshots.
The father of the victim, who was identified simply as Ziebidei, was said to have reported the incident to the Police.
“The pirates shot the girl dead at Gbaraun in Southern Ijaw. They were suspected to have come from Ikebiri community.
“One suspect was arrested. The corpse of the girl has been deposited at the mortuary of the Federal Medical Centre,” a source, who sought anonymity, said.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Bayelsa State Command, Mr. Alex Akhigbe, who confirmed the incident, said: “The girl died after she was hit by one of the stray bullets fired by the gunmen. The police have recovered one of the boats used by the pirates during the operation.
“We are on their trail. We know their identities and we will soon arrest the suspects.”
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