Reports reaching DAILY POST say Riverine Communities
including Endoro, Peretorugbene, Fuotorugbene, Egbema-Angalabiri, Ayama, Ojobo,
Torugbene, Ekeremor, Tamigbe and others in Delta and Bayelsa States are
currently under military siege.
Soldiers have allegedly barricaded water ways with gun
armoured boats over the recent attack on a military formation as well as
killing of two persons including a soldier in Ogbogbagbene Community in Burutu
Local Government Area.
People of the areas are said to be trapped in the creeks.
It was gathered that there is food supply to the affected
communities as the inhabitants are not allowed to go about their lawful
businesses.
The soldiers have blocked the Remos and Forcados section of
the river searching for the hoodlums who carried out the criminal acts on its
personnel.
Sources say: “The inhabitants cannot come to Bomadi town to
buy and sell their goods are there is no vehicular or boat movements to and fro
the areas since the soldiers entered the waterways early morning of Sunday July
16.”
“There is also restriction of movements by the military in
Bomadi and its environs with people being harassed to the extent of living fear
imminent invasion.”
Meanwhile, the Foundation for Human Rights And
Anti-Corruption Crusade, FHRACC, has condemned the military for the ongoing
operation.
National President, Alaowei Ebikonbowei Cleric Esq, who also
condemned the acts of bandits in the Niger Delta region said,” Although we have
condemned and will continue to condemn such acts, the trend taken by the
military to avenge for the death of its officer is also condemnable.”
“Endangering the peoples lives just to fight some miscreants
is not acceptable.
“If the news we are hearing is anything to go by, then there
is a humanitarian crisis in the affected communities.”
Cleric called on the Delta and Bayelsa State Governments as
well as people of goodwill to prevail on the soldiers before they commit
another Odi genocide in the creeks.
“The Governments of Delta and Bayelsa States should rise to
the occasion to call the soldiers to other.
“We cannot afford to experience another invasion of an
innocent community by the Nigerian Armed Forces in the name of looking for
criminals.”
By Matthew Omonigho
