www.vanguardngr.com/2014/07/soldiers-kill-rccg-pastor-injure-2-others-delta/

BY EMMA AMAIZE & AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE
OPURAJA — SOLDIERS have shot dead a pastor of the
Redeemed Christian Church of God and injured
about three others at the quiet Opuraja community
in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State.
The pastor said to be in his 30s was married with
four children.
A security source said the soldiers, led by a Captain,
came in two Hilux vans to conduct investigation in
the community, but were allegedly mobbed by
villagers, who misconstrued their motive, as they took
away vigilante leader and community chairman.
The soldiers reportedly denied killing anybody, but
admitted that they shot into the car when the
villagers surged towards them.
The Orodje of Okpe kingdom, HRM, Mujakperuo
Orhue 1, a retired army officer, was said to have
waded into the matter to calm frayed nerves after the
fracas.
He expressed his disappointment over the incident,
saying the soldiers should not have fired at unarmed
citizens.
The monarch, however, pleaded with the community
leadership and Okpe Local Local Government
Transition Committee chair, Chief James Augoye, to
find ways of resolving the issues amicably.
Former Minister of Information, Prof. Sam Oyovbaire,
who is from the community, confirmed that one
person was killed and some persons injured, but said
details were sketchy, as the soldiers claimed they
fired to scare the crowd.
A villager, who spoke to Vanguard said: “I saw the
soldiers, they came to the community, asking for the
chairman of the community and vigilante leader.
They told them that there was robbery incident on
Warri/Sapele expressway and asked them to reveal
the identity of the person who owns the farm from
which the bandits collected the wood they used to
barricade the road.
“They told the soldiers that none of the community
people owns farm there, but the military men
accused them of not doing their job effectively.
“We saw the soldiers carry them away in their Hilux
van and drove to the expressway, where they tied
them against their vehicles until it was 6 a.m.
“The youths mobilised and went to the scene where
the community leaders were tied and when the army
saw the crowd approaching, they started shooting
indiscriminately.
“A group of soldiers in another Hilux van apparently
heard the gunshots and rushed to the scene, that
was how the pastor, who was standing by was shot
and he died immediately.”
Opuraja community chairman, Mr Godwill
Eyaguobor, said: “The youths in the community are
not criminals, none has been caught robbing in the
community or engaged in any act of violence.”

They have muscles with civilians

A lawless Nation, what business has soldiers with robbery? Is there no police in Delta State? Who gave soldiers right to toture Nigerian citizens? What is Uduaghan doing? Those soldiers should be dismissed from service and tried in court.