Soldiers at the weekend invaded the Rumekpe community in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, burning down two houses belonging to two youths.
The invasion followed an allegation of missing guns said to have been taken by the youths at an illegal bunkering site between Rumuekpe and Ndele Community boundaries.
Sources said four soldiers came and started harassing youths and collecting money as their share of the business. At the same time, those who refused to comply had their products impounded and loaded into the vehicle the soldiers came with.
Trouble started when one of the bunkering operators, who is also an OSPAC member, was ordered by the soldiers to load the confiscated illegally-refined petroleum products into their vehicle
The OSPAC operative said he was tired of doing it alone and couldn’t continue. However, the Soldiers punished him by asking him to lie down and face the sun
The news of his punishment was heard by other OSPAC members, who quickly went to the scene to rescue their colleague
They overpowered the soldiers who ran away, leaving two Soldiers behind, who were beaten and their guns allegedly seized before they were set free without their weapons.
The Soldiers reinforced and stormed the Rumuekpe community making arrests, chasing and arresting wives of suspected youths, and burning houses to recover their arms.
