Soldiers in the early hours of Saturday invaded Oporoza, a settlement in Gbaramatu kingdom of Delta State, where former militant leader, Tompolo, hails from.
There has been an upsurge in attacks on oil and gas installations in the Niger Delta by a group called the Niger Delta Avengers.
A resident of the area, Raphael Gbenekama, who spoke from a hideout said the community was invaded at about 1.52 AM.
He said the soldiers arrived in speedboats and arrested many people in the community.
“I really cannot say their mission, we are a very peaceful community, they should leave us alone, we are not even talking of lack of development and lack of social amenities,” Mr. Gbenekama said.
“As I speak with you I am in the bush where I am taking refuge, the whole community have fled and those who could not run have been rounded up and arrested, but I can tell you that we do not habour criminals, our people are innocent.
“We have a vigilante group that we put in place to ensure that militants do not infiltrate our communities,” Mr. Gbenekama said.
According to him, more than seven gunboats loaded with armed soldiers invaded the community shooting sporadically and beating up residents and arresting them indiscriminately.
He said that one of the victims was an elderly traditional ruler, Chief Atiti Mala, who was hit with the butt of a gun.
Mr. Gbenekama said the settlement had nothing to do with Tompolo who is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
He appealed to the federal government to call the soldiers to order and to protect civilians.
“We have been sacked from our settlements and the federal government should protect us,” he said.
Isa Ado, spokesman for the Joint Military Force in the Niger Delta did not react to the development.
He neither took calls nor replied to text messages delivered to his mobile phone.
Credit: Premium Times
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