Fear of
reprisal has gripped Ndoro community in Bayelsa State, following the killing of
four soldiers and another security personnel.
Fleeing
residents of the community lamented that troops and military hardware were
being deployed in Ekeremor local council area to hunt for those behind the
crime.
Sources said
a militant leader called Kareowei and his gang murdered the soldiers during a
shoot out in the creeks.
Kareowei was
also recently linked with the kidnapping of four Christian missionaries at
Enekorogha community in Burutu local council area of Delta State.
The gang was
also said to be behind the increased piracy and attacks of firms in the
riverine areas.
Their
exploits include last year’s attacks in Ogbobagbene, in which a soldier was
killed and a general-purpose machine gun carted away.
The kidnap
kingpin is also believed to have masterminded the abduction in October 2017 of
Madam Ekpongbolo Preyor.
The abducted
woman is the mother of a lawmaker representing Bomadi Constituency in the Delta
State House of Assembly, Kenneth Oboro Preyor.
The
Commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Bomadi Division, Capt. Jimoh Abdul,
declined to speak about the tensed situation in the area.
He said:
“I’m in a very difficult terrain right now. Call 222 Battalion if you want any
information. Or call the task force units for details. I do not have the
authority to speak on anything right now.”
But the Pere
of Akugbene-Mein Kingdom, Pere Kalanama Viii, cautioned the military to
carryout their operation with professionalism.
While
condemning the killing of the soldiers, he appealed to them not to harm
innocent people. The Delta State Chairman, Phase 2 of the Amnesty Programme,
Kingsley Muturu, also condemned the killings.
“We want
peace to reign to allow development to take place in the Niger Delta region,”
he said. Meanwhile, a group in Warri North Local Council has condemned alleged
military invasion in Egbema kingdom.
The group,
called Concerned Citizens of Polobubou (Tsekelewu) Communities (CCPC) said they
would not succumb to intimidation under any guise.
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