BAYELSA (Sundiata Post) – The people of Igbomotoru Community in Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa State, whose troops of the Nigeria army had invaded early in the week, have stated that they had previously warned appropriate authorities about the activities of the militant gang in the area.
Military men had on Sunday invaded the Community, burnt down houses and killed about 11 persons while searching for the primary suspect linked to the killing of 17 soldiers in Okuama Community in Delta state.
Paramount Ruler of Igbomotoru Communities, HRH Ayibaikie Ofongo, told newsmen in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital on Friday that because of his stance against the criminality of the militant gang and leader, he was banished from the community for about three years, while the hoodlums took control of the community untill they allegedly involved in the killing of soldiers at Okuama Community in Delta state.
Ofongo, a retired army officer, said having served the nation in the armed forces all through his life and now the traditional ruler of the community, he couldn’t have kept quiet while the group of militants perpetrated criminalities in his domain, adding it was the beginning of his problems in the community.
He also commended the military operations in Igbomotoru Communities, saying so far, the military are after the fleeing militant leader and his boys, and the houses burnt are where they hide.
He said: “My Community, Igbomotoru, for some times now, have had some internal problems and there is a group that went and brought militants to the community to dissolve the ruling class in the community, and at the same time leading to vandalizing national assets of oil companies in our area for their own good, which I opposed, that if we have any problem with the oil companies, we should apply the normal system of Communication to the oil companies and to government so that they can look at those issues, but this advise did not go through with the group.
“And since that time, there has been problems, based on the differences we had, for almost three years running, I was not allowed to visit my own community, my life was threatened and I have to escape from the community. I only get to the community when I have an incident of death of my relations, that has been the trend of the problem till the present issue of killing soldiers at Okuama Community in Delta State.
“Where I’m hiding, I got telephone calls from both the home and some other relations and friends on what happened at Igbomotoru and what I was told was that a group of Army people came into the Community, particularly on Igbomotoru ll, Igbomotoru is in both side of the river Sangana. So when I had this issue, I enquired from sources I should believe, so they told me there was an Army invasion of the community, I was told a militant from Igbomotoru by the name Endurance Amagbain went to Delta and some military officers who were there to make peace were shot death, that was why military invaded our community last Sunday.
“The Army troops that came, they know where the person they wanted was and they went there, and some miscreants who are members of the militant gang came out and wanted to know what was happening in their usual militant way, and there was opening of fire from the Army, and some of them were killed. So, it was only members of the militant gang that were killed, not the natives.
“I have previously written several petitions to both the presidency, the state government and the security agencies about the activities of this militant gang, and we attended meetings with the governor, we also had time with the oil companies representatives, because when they started, the started with the oil companies and then rolled back to me that I have been deposed and all that, so all those activities were reported to the government, and so many meetings were held by the government and oil companies to resolve that but the people continue to do what they think it’s good for them, until we reach this state. It was my opposition to this militant group that made them forced me out of the community on self-exile.
“As a Paramount Ruler and somebody who has served in the Nigerian Army and retired, I most always report any act of lawlessness to the authorities, if not, that means I am involved.
“Army operation at Igbomotoru Community is just after the fleeing militant gang at Igbomotoru ll, where their leader resides and be committing all these criminal issues, infact they have not crossed to Igbomotoru 1, but because of fear, people have deserted the entire community.
“You see the military has done well, what happened to the military, even during my time as a soldier, you cannot go and tempt the lion and you will think he will sit down and begin to look at you, when you provoke him to that level of killing, the militant gang went to Delta to kill army personnel and the army came to kill them because they too know how to kill, they don’t move from house to house in Igbomotoru to kill everybody.
“I am not against government taking any action in respect to what has happened, because lives have been lost. It was only houses where the prime suspect in the killing of soldiers stayed that were burnt not Innocent People’s houses. That is why I appeal to the federal government to Establish army formation at Igbomotoru Community, it will help checkmate the criminality.
“So, I urge the army to continue to be civil as they are hunting for their suspected killers of soldiers because the Community is ready to assist them to ensure that all suspects involved in the dastardly act are apprehended,” he said.
