Soldiers from Delta, kill residents in Bayelsa, burn down houses

Last week’s massacre of 16 soldiers and officers at Okuama Community in Delta State, triggered troops of the Nigerian Army to invade the Igbomotoru community in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, razing houses and allegedly killing about 11 people.

As reported, the soldiers arrived the area in five gunboats, and razed houses suspected to be the hideout of a militant leader said to be involved in the killing of the military men who were on rescue mission in Delta.

Daily Trust had reported how an Army Commander, two majors, one captain and 12 soldiers were killed in Okuama.

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

Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, had directed the immediate investigation and arrest of those involved in the heinous crime.

Days after the order, residents of the Okuama community fled to neighbouring Ughelli for fear of reprisal by soldiers.

Houses were burnt in Okuama at the weekend and after that, soldiers stormed neighbouring Bayelsa.

A source said immediately the troops stormed the Bayelsa community, they opened fire on some residents relaxing at the jetty before proceeding to set ablaze the three buildings suspected to be the hideout 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 at 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.

An X (Twitter) user was heard condemning the actions of the soldiers by burning oil installations and razing communities.

“This kind thing good, this kind thing, this kind thing, wey u dey see good. Enough fuel wey them they catch so,” he said.

“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.

“Some of the people 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, that is if there will ever be peace in the community.

“I am appealing to the Federal and State Governments 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.