Kelechi Kas
Tension is rising between Ozuzu, Ogida communities in Etche Local Government Area and Ubima in Ikwerre Local Government Area both in Rivers State following the killing of three security guards by gunmen from Ubima on Monday.
The three security guards were the staff of Société d’Investissement pour l’Agriculture Tropicale”, also known as SIAT Nigeria Limited, an agro-industrial based in Ubima, Ikwerre Local Government Area.
SIAT operates 16,000 hectares of oil palm plantations under concessionary agreement with the Rivers State Government.
The gunmen said to be numbering about 40 who invaded the plantation on Monday, butchered the three security guards while six others escaped.
A source who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity alleged that one of the assailants was a former staff of the company simply identified as Oscar who was sacked months ago.
The source said her cousin’s husband was murdered during the attack, adding that the gunmen called one the deceased wife to go and pick up her husband’s body.
Ozuzu and Ogida communities are calling the attack “a calculated attempt by miscreants on their indigenes”. The community said only their people were targeted and killed.
A community source told theportcitynews that the atmosphere has become tensed and if not well managed, might lead to communal clashes.
But inside sources in Ubima said soldiers have stormed the community in search of the perpetrators of the crime, adding that arrests had been made.
Mr. Alan Ashurst, Chief Investment Manager of SIAT Nigeria Limited, called the attack despicable, and urged relevant authorities to bring the perpetrators to book.
Samuel Nwanosike, the Ikwerre Local Government Chairman, urged security agencies to apprehend those responsible for the act.
Nwanosike noted that those who were arrested in connection to the incident by the police had confessed to the crime and are making useful statements that will lead to the arrest of others and their sponsors.
