•Troops
Igbomotoru community in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State has been deserted by the people following alleged attack on the community by several armed soldiers yesterday.
Though the reason for the alleged military invasion of the community could not be confirmed, it was gathered today that the soldiers were reportedly in search of militants who used the area as their hideout, reports Daily Independent.
Also, it could not be ascertained if the soldiers’ mission was in connection with the killing of 16 military personnel around Okuama community in neighbouring Delta State by some irate youths, a community source said that the combat-ready soldiers stormed Igbomotoru in five gunboats.
No fewer than three houses suspected to be used as hideouts by a militant leader and his gang were allegedly razed by the soldiers, it was learnt.
They were said to have allegedly shot sporadically at some youths sighted at the jetty before proceeding to set ablaze the three houses, though the militant leader and his men had fled the area when the incident occurred.
The booming gunshots were said to have caused panic in the community, forcing the people to run into the bush and creeks for safety of their lives.
According to the source, “the military invasion has affected the people gravely. Lives have been lost, property have been destroyed. Even after the attack, I am sure that life in that community can never be the same.
“This weekend was scheduled for the burial of one of my late uncles. We have paid for food, drinks, music, speedboat and canopies. And now because of this, the burial can no longer hold. In fact some of the people we have paid money are saying that if the date would be changed then we would have to pay extra money. Is that not a huge lose? So we would have to start looking for more money, that is if there will ever be peace in the community.
“I am appealing to the federal and state government to, as a matter of urgency, intervene in this matter. We do not have a hand in whatever that transpired in Delta State. The international community should come to our aid.”
However, another community source said that the soldiers invaded Igbomotoru community in seven gunboats and allegedly opened fire on some youths sighted at the jetty.
The source said, “For now, I’m in the bush as I speak. But in the early hours of yesterday (Sunday) around 8 o’clock in the morning, I saw military gunboats about seven, and one passport that came to the community.
“I was standing at the waterside looking at them; they saw some of our youths in the jetty and that was how they started shooting at them. Many people are dead. Since yesterday (Sunday), we have been hiding.”
Efforts to reach the spokesperson for the Nigerian Army 16 Brigade, Elebele-Yenagoa, did not yield positive result as of the time of filing this report.
