A team of
soldiers of the Nigerian Army invaded invaded Oporoza, the traditional
headquarters of Gbaramatu kingdom in the early hours of Saturday, May
28, 2016.
The soldiers arrived at about 2.15 am in
gunboats and began to beat up residents – men, women, children, and the
elderly. According to Vanguard, the community was still under siege by
the soldiers at about 8.00 am.
An email to The Trent from Comrade Zinami Iwariso, the national publicity secretary of the Niger Delta Youth Forum, reveals that the soldiers were in hunt of members of the Niger Delta Avengers, a militant group that has been on a campaign to ground the Nigerian economy.
“Reliable information got to us that the
Nigerian military invaded Gbaramatu kingdom in search of members of the
Niger Delta Avengers,” Iwariso said. “But, having not seen any of the
members of the militant group, the Nigerian Military resorted to
harassment, intimidation and brutality of innocent and free citizens of
the community.”
Reports say that an octogenarian
community leader, Chief Atiti Mala, was beaten with the butt of a gun by
the rampaging soldiers.
“They were asking the helpless villagers
to produce former militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias
Tompolo, and members of the Niger Delta Avengers,” a youth leader told
journalists.
An Ijaw leader, Chief Godspower
Gbenekama, who confirmed the attack on Oporoza, said: “Information
available to me is that the military invaded Oporoza again in the early
hours of today. As I am speaking to you, they are still there molesting
people.
“They have arrested many persons and
villagers have fled into the bush, this is wrong, they are going to
worsen issues with what they are doing. I posted on Facebook that they
invaded Oporoza and a military called me to tell me that they would deal
with me.
“We are not safe, we have said it over
and over that Gbaramatu people are not synonymous with Niger Delta
Avengers, they should leave my people along.
“If they want to kill me, let them go
ahead, but I will continue to say the truth, why are they harassing my
people, they should harass the militants whose activities we condemn,”
he added.
The National Youth Forum condemned the
attack in a statement on Saturday. “We unequivocally state here that
the ugly method employed by the military is against the ethics and rules
of engagement of military operations,” the statement signed by Comrade
Zinami Iwariso said.
“We further state that the acts of the Nigerian military is against
the 1999 Constitution and African Charter on People’s and Human Rights,
that guarantees inalienable rights to all persons.“In view of the above, we call on the military to stop forthwith from all acts of human right abuse in Gbaramatu Kingdom and indeed within and around the Niger Delta Region or we will petition them for war crimes against humanity .
“Furthermore, the military is reminded that we are in a democratic government and everything must be done within the ambit of the law .
“Finally , we call on President Buhari who is the commander-in-chief of the arm forces to call the military to order.
“Also we wish to remind Mr. President
that when the leaders of Boko Haram (Shekau and Kabiru Sokoto) were been
hunted by previous administration, they never resorted to harassing and
assaulting members of their communities.
“On this note we urge that precedent be followed,” the statement ended.
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