Lorine Emenike
The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), on Sunday, said it received report of the “alleged killing of three security personnel of the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) around Gio Community in Tai Local Government Area, Ogoniland, Rivers State by suspected gangsters and cultists, carted away with their weapons”
“MOSOP condemns the action of the youths and gangsters that allegedly killed the officers and personnel of the Army and Civil Defense Corps and called on the youths of Ogoniland to stop such acts against security personnel posted to Ogoniland on official duties to avoid confrontation with security personnel that would lead to the killing of innocent villagers”
Recall that three security personnel comprising of a soldier and two Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were killed in Gio, Tai Local Government Area by suspected oil thieves who also carted away the guns of the security personnel.
They were guarding a Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, pipeline in the area, the Trans-Niger Pipeline near Gio when they were ambushed by the gunmen said to be cultists and illegal oil bunkerers.
However, soldiers raided the community on Sunday, shooting sporadically and burning houses.
But MOSOP in a statement signed by Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, its Publicity Secretary/Spokesman said that two wrongs cannot make a right while condemning the invasion of Gio Community in Tai LGA and surrounding communities in Gokana LGA by Army personnel from the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army on Sunday, June 16, 2019 with a view of avenging the death of their colleagues.
It said “The MOSOP President, Baria-ara Kpalap condemns ongoing destruction of properties of innocent villagers, sporadic shootings and sacking of the communities by a combined team of Nigerian Army and NSCDC Personnel in Gio and surrounding communities.
” The president believes that such spontaneous reaction with gun battle is not the solution to the problem.
*He thus called on the Nigerian Army to halt further destructions in the communities and give way for the Police to commence investigation into the incident with a view to bringing the perpetrators of the heinous acts to book”
