From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
An Ijaw leader has urged the military to protect innocent residents as they search for masterminds of the attack that killed 16 soldiers in Okuama, Delta State.
Chief Ayebatari Easterday of Igbomotoru, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area (LGA), expressed his concern in Yenagoa, yesterday.
He spoke against the backdrop of the ongoing military crackdown on speculated hideouts of the suspects who perpetrated the crime in Delta, now alleged to have fled to Bayelsa.
The former councillor who represented the community in the LGA, called on security agents to always carry out in-depth investigations before taking actions capable of affecting innocent lives.
He alleged that some people had been killed in the community by aggrieved soldiers in search of the militants who allegedly spearheaded the death of the 16 soldiers. He said economic activities in Igbomotoru, a coastline community along the bank of the River Nun, have reduced due to the activities of the military. Some of the youths in the society, he said, had fled to neighbouring communities.
Similarly, former member of the House of Representatives, Henry Daniel-Ofongo, and member representing Igbomotoru in Southern Ijaw LGA Caretaker Committee, Solomon Suobo, unanimously called for caution.
They urged the military to abide by the rule of engagement guiding their operations. The soldiers, they said, should conduct themselves in a manner that would not make the innocent continue to bear the brunt of evil acts committed by others.
The member, House of Representatives representing Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency of Bayelsa State, Rodney Ambaiowei, also urged the military to exercise caution in its operation to fish out those behind the killing of the soldiers.
Ambaiowei, who stated this, at a press briefing, in Abuja, said this was necessary to minimise collateral damage to innocent and law abiding citizens, especially against the backdrop of “the invasion and carnage that took place in Odi, November 1999 following the killing of some soldiers and policemen.”
The lawmaker, while condemning the killing of military personnel, including four officers and 12 soldiers, expressed support for the government to bring the perpetrators to book.
He said: “There is no gainsaying that the gruesome and unprovoked murder of 16 officers and men of the Nigerian army, consisting of a Lieutenant Colonel, two majors, a captain and 12 other men of the military by criminals in Okuama community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, is one of the worse things to have happened to our gallant soldiers in recent history.”
He expressed dismay that the crisis has “spilled into Igbomotoru, a hitherto peaceful community in my federal constituency, Southern Ijaw, which is more than 150 nautical kilometres from Okuama and in less than 24 hours spilled into Igbomotorumy Federal Constituency.
“This led to the invasion of the once serene community by men said to be of the military in search of the perpetrators of the heinous crime at Okuama. The aftermath of the invasion was the destruction and killing of some innocent and peace loving citizens of Igbomotoru community, which is rather unfortunate and saddening.. . “
Ambaiowei added: “I am aware that the Nigerian Army has the capacity to gather intelligence within a short period. The execution of such intelligence reports should be done with utmost caution to minimise collateral damage to innocent and law abiding citizens.
“I say this, bearing in mind the invasion and carnage that took place in Odi, November 1999, following the killing of some soldiers and policemen which remains fresh in our memories. Caution and professionalism must be the watchword to forestall unpleasant and regrettable consequences in the approach to bringing the culprits to book. “