Soldiers Raid Rivers Community
... in search of oil thieves
From Okon Bassey in Port Harcourt
The Joint Task Force, Operation Flush out 3, in Rivers State, Tuesday raided Gbali community in Degema local government area of the state in search of oil thieves that reportedly disarmed military personnel on guard oil installations in the area.
THISDAY gathered that the community is now a ghost town as residents have fled to escape arrest.
At a news briefing in Port Harcourt yesterday, a spokesman for the community Pastor Dawari Nathan Remeo, said on September 23, the combined team of military personnel numbering over 100 alleged that hoodlums from the community attacked Navy men on guard oil facilities in the area.
The hoodlums believed to be oil bunkerers were said to have successfully disarmed the Navy personnel and seized their uniforms. As a result members of the task force stormed the community to arrest those involved and recover the items.
The community spokesman said when the task force gave 16 names of those reportedly involved in the clash, two persons were identified and handed over to the squad.
Remeo also disclosed that last Tuesday members of the task force again came to the community in full force.
" We are surprised that by Wednesday again, we have strange faces, this time with intent to loot. They came both by air and ground. While the ground forces moved in, they started shooting and maiming.
" They moved from house to house looting. In one house, they removed all the chieftaincy regalia, and over N2.8 million meant for the salary of security workers of an oil company.
" They went into restaurant, took food and drinks at will. Nobody talked to them, instead the people ran into the forest. They shot randomly and promised to come back.
" As I am talking to you now, (yesterday) there is tension in the land. The community is a ghost community now.
" We are crying out to the nation and whosoever want to know that this Gbali community has been taken over by the military under terrible occupation and seizure".
When contacted on telephone last night, the Army PRO Second Brigade Nigerian Army Port Harcourt, Captain Onyema Kanu, admitted that the task force visited the community and a neighbouring one 10 days ago and also on Tuesday in continuation of the search for those who attacked the navy personnel.
He said several arms ad ammunition were recovered during the visit.
He could not, however, confirm the report of looting but disclosed that some elders of Gbali came to his office yesterday to complain that the task force was harsh on the community.
He advised the people of the state with meaningful issue to discuss on the activities of the task force not to hesitate to do so rather than embarking on wild speculation.
In the early years of this administration, the army had raided and left in ruins Odi, Bayelsa State while on reprisal attack for the kidnap and murder of some policemen. The army also killed hundreds of people in Zaki Biam, Benue State following the murder of some soldiers on peace keeping mission in the area.
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