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Some armed soldiers


Samuel Nkemakolem and Patrick Odey

Troops of the 16 Brigade of the Nigerian Army on Tuesday allegedly invaded the Azagbene community in the Ekermor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State and burnt down houses after chasing away residents.

The rampaging soldiers were said to be in search of suspected militants who allegedly killed two of their colleagues guarding a crude oil facility in the area.



According to a community source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the armed suspected militants had come in a speedboat on Monday night and open fire on the unsuspecting soldiers.

While two of the soldiers died in the surprise attack, one of their colleagues was missing while their rifles were carted away.

He said the attack on the soldiers might have provoked their colleagues as stern looking troops on Tuesday morning invaded the community, burnt houses while the villagers scampered into the bush for safety.

“When the soldiers entered our community, they directed us to leave because they were going to burn everything to the ground and that anybody that failed to comply with the directive would be killed.

“Before some of us left the community, I saw the building of our paramount ruler on fire. Even my family house had been burnt to the ground. As I speak with you, we are suffering for a crime we didn’t commit.”

When contacted, the spokesman for the 16 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Maj. Danjuma Jonah, confirmed the death of two of its personnel but denied burning down houses in the community.

He said, “Our men did not burn down houses in Azagbene community. We are only combing the community and neighbouring towns in search of one soldier that is missing as a result of the attack that led to the death of two other soldiers. We are carrying out the search for the missing soldier in conjunction with the leaders of the community.

“So, that is what is going on now. I cannot give you the details of the operation until it’s over.”



In a related development, residents of Inen community in Oruk Anam Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have fled their homes over alleged planned reprisal by soldiers.

The soldiers, it was learnt, were planning to attack the community over the killing of two of their colleagues and the abduction of an expatriate worker which occurred last week at a construction site in the LGA by unknown gunmen.

But the leaders of the community have denied allegations that their people were behind the killing of the two soldiers and the abduction of the expatriate worker.

The Head in Council of Inen Clan, Johnson Obosi, who spoke at a media conference held at the Oruk Anam Local Government Council, said those behind the act would not go unpunished.

Obosi added that as a border community linking it with other local government areas and Rivers State, the perpetrators were able to enter the community to commit the crimes.

He appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, and the State Commissioner of Police, Zaki Ahmed, to reactivate the abandoned police post in the community by providing it with the necessary manpower and logistics to provide protective cover for the area and its environs.

Obosi said, “This sad news shocked our community and clan in general because, for a long time, we have not had sporadic gun shots of such magnitude.

“This episode which occurred in a commando style was not only mindboggling but devastating, causing panic and tension in our community.

“As we speak, some villagers have fled their places of abode to neighbouring communities for fear of the unknown.

“The Clan-in-Council, leaders of thought and the entire Inen community, condemn and disassociate ourselves from this unfortunate incident and we will be willing to lend support to the authority to ensure freedom for the expatriate.”

The youth President, Mr John Adaedem, who also condemned the attack, exonerated the youths of the area of the crimes and assured the military that they would cooperate with the relevant security agencies to track down the kidnappers.

Source: https://punchng.com/soldiers-murder-troops-invade-bayelsa-community-raze-houses/

This is really pathetic. Insecurity in every part of the country.
Nigeria my country.
which way are we heading to ?

must the houses be burn before the search for a missing solder be done ?

RIP to the dead.

This is bad for democracy

At 21st century soldiers still invade a settlement to kill innocent citizens? Nigeria is doomed!

Why has the same troop not invade the Northeast to wipe out Boko Boys for the unending & countless murder of soldiers for many years now?!
Even though, I am not in support for the few set of people that killed the soldiers in Bayelsa.

The soldiers, it was learnt, were planning to attack the community over the killing of two of their colleagues and the abduction of an expatriate worker which occurred last week at a construction site in the LGA by unknown gunmen.

This is barbaric, to raze down a community cos of some criminals crimes?

He said, “Our men did not burn down houses in Azagbene community. We are only combing the community and neighbouring towns in search of one soldier that is missing as a result of the attack that led to the death of two other soldiers. We are carrying out the search for the missing soldier in conjunction with the leaders of the community.

What shall we believe now?!

Nigerian military and lawlessness

These idiots are yet to invade boko haram camps despite the large number of soldiers they kill on a daily.

Animals on uniform

Must these soldiers always behave like this?

Na bayelsa dem fit flex muscle.. while for North dem de kill dem like fowl..

Yeye people.

second time You're bringing this post to front page

“When the soldiers entered our community, they directed us to leave because they were going to burn everything to the ground and that anybody that failed to comply with the directive would be killed.

“Before some of us left the community, I saw the building of our paramount ruler on fire. Even my family house had been burnt to the ground. As I speak with you, we are suffering for a crime we didn’t commit.”

You ask the villagers to leave, how then do you want to make your investigations if not to smoke suspects whom have refused to leave out...

I feel for those villagers

Wickedness

they can misbehave in bayelsa but will always be timid in zamfara and other states in the north

There are things I would have said here,but let me wait for bayelsans and nigerdeltans on this forum to take the initiative, ..

Una find trouble come dey cry foul, why una bois go kill 2 officer? Niger delta bois no dey hear word atall

dirtydiva:
Una find trouble come dey cry foul, why una bois go kill 2 officer? Niger delta bois no dey hear word atall

Really?!

Boko Haram live in Northern cities like Maiduguri and have killed enough soldiers there. Why haven't they burnt down places like Maiduguri cos of that. They bring these Northern soldiers to the South to intimidate and kill our people while Southern soldiers are taken to the North to be used as sacrificial lambs for Boko Haram, Shittes and other such groups there. What a mistake of a country.

Our Nigerian Army are nothing short of a 'rag tag' bandits. How do you go about razing up buildings of civilian you ought to be protecting because of you suspected they could be responsible for the death of your fellow comrades. Sorry for your loss.
But this is absolutely unremarkable about the military. Nigeria has lost it completely

This is wrong .soldiers shouldn't be used as an instrument of arson and brigandage.

Naija I hailed the

ayatt:
This is bad for democracy

At 21st century soldiers still invade a settlement to kill innocent citizens? Nigeria is doomed!

All u do is come here and shout
When you were busy voting the blood sucking person you kept screaming Atiku is ipob
Enjoy your next level

Sentiment everywhere.... what happened to those soldiers been killed by BH in the northeast Have they raid and burnt � down their houses and hideouts

Only expressing professionalism with unarmed people .... wat a bleep