Three communities in the southern Ijaw local government council area of
Bayelsa state have been invaded by soldiers reports Naij.com
The communities where the military raided include; Peremabiri, Akamabugo
and Tikogbene in southern Ijaw local government council area. The military
offensive is believed to be part of special Operation Crocodile Smile being
carried out by the army against insurgents in the oil rich Niger Delta region.
The soldiers numbering over 50 said they were searching for suspected members
of the Niger Delta Avengers and ended up beating up two youth leaders, Pastor
Lucky and Bernard Ogunawei, into a state of coma.
Witnesses said Bernard was later released with grievious injuries,
Pastor Lucky was arrested and taken to an unknown destination. The soldiers
reportedly destroyed over 43 houses and carted away three speed boats during
the operation. Also destroyed in the attack were family homes of front line
former militant leader, Comrade Eris Paul popularly known along the creeks and
waterways as General Ogunboss, Million Gobo, Richard Marcus, Elkenah, Bernard
Osunawei and many others. However, concerned indigenes of Peremabiri Community
have alleged that some influential politicians in the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) were behind the invasion.
This was the stance of General Ogunboss, who said finding by his kinsmen
revealed that the invasion was ordered by PDP chieftains following the
political loyalty of the community to the All Progressive Congress (APC) during
the last Governorship election in the state. He also called on the minister of
defence, the chief of army staff and President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate
the invasion. Meanwhile, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), one of the militant groups
operating in oil-rich region, said that at least 20 soldiers died during the
military operation “Crocodile smile”. The group in a statement signed by its
spokesman Brig Gen Mudoch Agbinibo and made available to NAIJ.com offered their
condolences to the families and Mr. President, Muhammadu Buhari, C-In-C of the
armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on the soldiers murdered in
the current military operation.
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