Five Feared Killed, Houses Torched As Gunmen In Army Uniform Invade Bayelsa Community

At least five persons were reported killed, houses looted and burnt as gunmen in military uniform allegedly invaded Akamabubou-Tugogbene communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The incident which happened on Monday around 2:pm is currently brewing tension in the communities.

Local sources disclosed that several houses were looted by the gunmen who later set them ablaze.

The communities have become a ghost of itself since the incident which left many homeless and about five persons killed.

Confirming the incident on Wednesday, Chief Godbless Ekiye and Chief Werilebebe Jacob, said that several indigenes have been missing after they fled their homes into the bush when the gunmen stormed the area.

He, however, said that a search parties have been constituted to search for those who reportedly fled into the bush.

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Vice Chairman of the Akamabuo Community Development Association, Benjamin Soko, told newsmen on Wednesday that the incident took place at about 1:30am on the 4th of August.

“We were woken up by series of endless gun sounds, only to realize that it was men in military uniforms in company with about four gunboats that were razing down parts of the communities”, he said

“The motive for the attack on the communities reportedly by the military operatives were still not clear”, he added.

The sources, however alleged that armed uniform men carted away include two power generating sets, horse power speed boats, and household items including laptops, phones and other accessories with cash amounting to millions of naira.

The Chairman of the Southern Ijaw local government area, Chief Nigeria Kia, who condemned the act expressed concern at the rising incidence of military invasion into communities in Bayelsa.

“If the military is searching for a suspect, it is either they invite the person or declare such person wanted”, he contended.

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Meanwhile, the spokesperson of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Comrade Ebilade Ekerefe, has allegedly accused the Nigeria Army of unprofessional, describing the said invasion as an affront on Ijaw people.

Ekerefe wondered why peaceful Ijaw communities would consistently face military invasion but the North-East where Boko Haram and insurgency is at its peak are not treated like terrorists.

“Boko Haram is ravaging the entire North East and we have not heard that the military would go against their rules of engagement and vandalise communities within the North East. We don’t want to believe that this is an attempt to depopulate the Ijaw people”, Ekerefe said.

Efforts to get comments from spokesperson of 16th Brigade of the Nigerian Army,Capt. Tonye, failed as of press time as he was said to have said he was in Taraba for a training course and does not have details of the incident.