L
LequteMan
Guest
According to a report from Sahara Reporters, several gunmen suspected to be Niger Delta militants on Monday attacked and killed four soldiers and a civilian in Ekeremor LGA of Bayelsa State.
It's said that the militants laid an ambush for the soldiers along the Letugbene waterways before carrying out the act.
A community leader in the area alleged that soldiers had burnt down homes and destroyed property in an apparent retaliation.
Tare Porri, chairman of the central zone of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) confirmed the development and condemned the killing of the soldiers. He said the attacks were “bizarre and unprovoked.”
Mr. Porri said he was worried that the action of the suspected militants had pushed the Joint Task Force, “Operation Delta Safe,” to begin a military operation in Letugbene and Ebelabiri. He said residents in the areas accused the military of burning down houses and destroying other in an apparent operation to find the soldiers’ unknown killers.
“Two days ago, four military officers were killed in cold blood alongside a civilian. Military officers went to Letugbene community and on their way back, some persons accosted them and killed all of them,” he said. He added, “Yesterday morning, the military morning retaliated, invaded the communities and burnt down houses. The operations are still ongoing and it is spreading to other communities like Ebelabiri.”
“Security operatives are now [an] endangered species. It is unacceptable the way security officials deployed to the Niger Delta are killed without provocation by people they dedicated their lives to protect," he said.
Officers of the task force declined to comment on the issue.
It's said that the militants laid an ambush for the soldiers along the Letugbene waterways before carrying out the act.
A community leader in the area alleged that soldiers had burnt down homes and destroyed property in an apparent retaliation.
Tare Porri, chairman of the central zone of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) confirmed the development and condemned the killing of the soldiers. He said the attacks were “bizarre and unprovoked.”
Mr. Porri said he was worried that the action of the suspected militants had pushed the Joint Task Force, “Operation Delta Safe,” to begin a military operation in Letugbene and Ebelabiri. He said residents in the areas accused the military of burning down houses and destroying other in an apparent operation to find the soldiers’ unknown killers.
“Two days ago, four military officers were killed in cold blood alongside a civilian. Military officers went to Letugbene community and on their way back, some persons accosted them and killed all of them,” he said. He added, “Yesterday morning, the military morning retaliated, invaded the communities and burnt down houses. The operations are still ongoing and it is spreading to other communities like Ebelabiri.”
“Security operatives are now [an] endangered species. It is unacceptable the way security officials deployed to the Niger Delta are killed without provocation by people they dedicated their lives to protect," he said.
Officers of the task force declined to comment on the issue.
