About seven people are feared dead in Bayelsa State following alleged gun duel between rival militant groups over illegal oil bunkering and kidnapping.

It was gathered that the incident, which occurred on Wednesday around Oluashiri in the Nembe Local Government Area of the state, led to the death of two brothers and five others.

Sources said trouble started when one of the militant groups was accused of hoarding high calibre guns.

According to the sources, one of the gangs suffered the highest casualty in the shootout that ensued in the community bordering Bayelsa and Rivers states.The traditional ruler of Isaiah-Ama, a settlement in Oluasiri, Chiefson Awululu, said the gun battle lasted hours.