Military personnel on Tuesday invaded Akamabuo community in Southern-Ijaw LGA of Bayelsa state, destroying properties worth millions while some women and children have been declared missing.
According to the vice-chairman community development committee of the community, Benjamin Soko, the invasion took place at about 1:30 am.
He stated that he was woken up by a series of endless gunshots, only to realize that it was men in military uniforms who came in about four gunboats that were razing down parts of the communities.
He added that people scampered for safety while the soldiers torched properties.
An eyewitness, Jasper Godbless, said “They came with four Naval gunboats, and one of the soldiers was shouting ‘shoot anyone on sight”
“Houses were looted, houses were burnt, and up till the moment we are still looking for some of our children, wives, mothers and some elders”
The Spokesperson of IYC, Comr. Ebilade Ekerefe, who visited the community, however, condemned the action in its entirety.
He called for professionalism on the part of the military, describing the invasion as an affront on the Ijaw people.
He, therefore, wondered why peaceful Ijaw communities would consistently face military invasion but the northeast where Boko Haram and insurgency is at its peak are not treated as 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 Northeast.
“We don’t want to believe that this is an attempt to depopulate the Ijaw people”, Ekerefe said.
