The Bayelsa State Chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has denied a statement linking party leader, Timipre Sylva, to the killings of four soldiers and a policeman in Nembe area of Bayelsa State.

The statement, which was issued on Saturday, was credited to Barrister Seighfa Tonye-Brown on behalf of the “Ijaw Young Professionals in Bayelsa State”, associated the gruesome killings of the military personnel to the Ijaw Chief.

While reacting to the report, the Media Adviser to Chief Sylva, Doifie Buokoribo stated that neither the APC nor the State party leader was “privy to employ violence as a strategy to win the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state.”

Sylva noted further that the escalation of violence in the state should be put squarely at the doorstep of the incumbent government of Gov Seriake Dickson, adding that Dickson’s government has failed woefully in securing lives and property, but instead has overtly and covertly procured and traded in violence to intimidate political opponents and any voice of reason.

The statement also accused the current government of embarking on all manners of subterfuge, including facilitating of arms to non-state actors essentially to prevent the change that is imminent in Bayelsa State.

“It is no doubt that Sylva as the symbol of that change is the target of this schizoid propaganda by faceless groups, paid and unpaid writers, and political jobbers” the statement explained.

Sylva, however called on the Inspector General of Police to order an immediate investigation of the Nembe killings and most particularly, those behind the “Ijaw Young Professionals in Bayelsa State.”