FLASH: Several Killed As Angry Soldiers From Delta Burn Down Houses In Bayelsa

Troops of the Nigerian Army have invaded the Igbomotoru community in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, razing houses and allegedly killing about 11 people.

This followed last week’s killing of 16 soldiers and officers at Okuama Community in Delta State.

Osun Defender had reported how an Army Commander, two majors, one captain, and 12 soldiers on a peace mission were killed in Okuama.

According to a report by DailyTrust, soldiers in five gunboats reportedly stormed the community, razing houses suspected to be the hideout of a militant leader said to be involved in the killing of the military men who were on a rescue mission in Delta.

The deceased officers and soldiers were of the 181 Amphibious Batallion in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta.

According to a source, the troops on some residents relaxing at the jetty opened fire immediately they stormed the Bayelsa community, before proceeding to set ablaze the three buildings suspected to be the hideouts of the said militant leader.

He said the community had been able to recover 11 corpses from the attack, while still searching for others as of the time of filing this report.

According to him, “The military invasion has affected the people gravely. Lives have been lost, properties have been destroyed. Even after the attack, I am sure that life in the community will never be the same.

“This weekend was scheduled for the burial of one of my late uncles. We had paid for food, drinks, music, a speedboat, and canopies. And now, because of this, the burial can no longer hold.

“In fact, some of the people to whom we paid money are saying that if the date changes, we would have to pay extra money. Is that not a huge loss on its own? So we would have to start looking for more money if there is ever 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 transpired in Delta State. The international community should come to our aid.”

When contacted on the phone, the spokesman for Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) headquarters, Major Adenegan Ojo, terminated the call after hearing it was a journalist who called.

He, however, refused to answer subsequent phone calls.