Man Remanded for Alleged Assassination Attempt on Petroleum Minister Lokpobiri

A Magistrate Court in Yenagoa has ordered the remand of a 35-year-old man, Susaine Morgan, at the Correctional Service Centre in Okaka for 30 days over an alleged attempt to assassinate the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri.

The incident reportedly occurred in Ekeremor town, Bayelsa State. The court approved the remand following a request by Police Prosecutor ASP Stella A. Jerry-Friday to allow further investigations and pursue six other suspects still at large.

Morgan, identified as a suspect in the case, faces charges of conspiracy, armed robbery, attempted kidnapping, and unlawful possession of firearms, as outlined in suit YMC/51C/2025.

Police reports state that Morgan was arrested on January 1, 2025, at the minister’s residence, where he was found with two AK-47 rifles. The seven-member group allegedly used the festive season’s large crowds to infiltrate Lokpobiri’s residence.

According to security sources, intelligence alerted armed personnel to dangerous individuals among the visitors, leading to a crowd lockdown. Morgan was caught carrying a bag of firearms, while the other suspects escaped by blending into the crowd.

In retaliation, the fleeing suspects reportedly caused chaos in the community, firing shots, robbing a filling station of ₦400,000, and seizing a speedboat at the town’s waterfront to aid their escape.

Morgan has reportedly made “useful statements” identifying the other suspects, while authorities intensify efforts to track down the remaining individuals.