After the tragic killing of approximately 16 soldiers and officers in Okuoma Community, Delta State, last weekend, Nigerian Army troops reportedly conducted a raid on Igbomotoru community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The operation involved the alleged razing of houses and resulted in the deaths of around 11 individuals.According to sources, soldiers arrived in five gunboats and targeted three houses suspected to be the hideout of a militant leader implicated in the Delta State attack.
Upon their arrival, troops purportedly opened fire on residents at the jetty before setting ablaze the suspected hideouts.The aftermath of the military incursion has left the community reeling, with eleven bodies recovered thus far, and search efforts ongoing.
Residents lamented the devastating impact on their lives, citing loss of loved ones and destruction of property.One resident expressed frustration over the disruption caused, revealing that a planned burial ceremony had to be canceled due to the violence.
The financial implications of rescheduling the event were highlighted, further compounding the community’s distress.Calls for urgent intervention from both federal and state authorities, as well as appeals to the international community for assistance, have emerged amidst the escalating tensions.
Efforts to obtain official comment from the spokesperson for Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) were unsuccessful, as the spokesperson abruptly ended the call upon learning it was from a journalist, and subsequent attempts to reach
