Soldiers kill three residents in fresh attacks on Rivers Communities
The Nigerian soldiers have created pandemonium in Ajakajak, Ibot – Irem, Samanga, Dema, Oturia, and Otuafu communities in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State following the killings of three residents on Sunday.
Reports made available to Obinwannem News confirmed the deaths of three persons, severely injured two others by the joint security operatives and desertion of the indigenes from the community.
The security operatives who were said to have taken the communities by storm in gunboats were said to be in search of some youths who were involved in alleged criminal activities.
According to some witnesses, residents were preparing for Sunday service when they heard loud gunshots coming from different directions in their communities.
Speaking to newsmen via the phone, President General of the Obolo Youths Coalition, Ijaonama Mkpon Amon said that three persons who died in the raid were from his community, Ajakajak, while two others sustained life-threatening injuries in the Ibot-Irem community.
“Obolo is an ethnic group that cuts across Rivers and Akwa Ibom as well as some parts of Abia States. The military should understand that Ajakajak is a community and not a family if they were looking for a particular person.
“More than two thousand people live in that community. If you are coming to raid a community, it should be on target, not zigzag raiding.
“They (security operatives) need to work with the community people to differentiate innocent residents from those involved in criminal activities instead of raiding the entire area.
“This raid is condemnable and I call on the Inspector General of Police and the Chief of Army Staff to intervene and investigate this incident. They should tell their men not to make Andoni a war zone and for them to stop brutalizing our people.”
Mkpon also condemned the invasion and advised security agencies to go after their target rather than inflicting harm and killing innocent people who had nothing to do with crime, saying the constant raid of Andoni was traumatic to the people.
Nwada Ugochinyere Onyechere reporting, Obinwannem News
