Troops invade Bayelsa community, burn houses, 11 residents killed

Nigerian soldiers have reportedly invaded Igbomotoru community in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, razed houses and allegedly killed 11 residents.

It was gathered that the incident took place on Monday, March 18, 2024.

According to reports, the soldiers arrived in five gunboats to invade the community. The three houses razed were suspected to be a hideout of a militant leader allegedly involved in the killing of 16 military personnel on the rescue mission in Delta State.

Confirming the invasion was community leader, Ayibakipreye Solomon Clarkson Suobo.

He said, "I am calling on all security chiefs in Nigeria to please kindly intervene to save lives and property in Igbomotoru 2 community which started about 8am this morning, information reaching me as the CTC member representing the good and peaceful of Igbomotoru ward 6 is very unpleasant. The military is a very trained organisation whose responsibility is to defend its citizens rather than destroy them.

"To buttress further, the news about the brutal killing of military personnel a few days ago in Delta State is a condemnable act but my current concern is however the intelligence reports are linked. There was a need for a better approach rather than attacking and killing innocent indigent people of my community, Igbomotoru 2 that is situated thousands of miles away from Delta State where the gruesome murder of military personnel occurred.

"Please let all agencies of peace in Nigeria arise now to save my people now because my community Igbomotoru is under siege as at this moment. Please let all peace loving Nigerians come to our aid, we are being oppressed innocently without an explanation.

"Please I am appealing to the military to apply the carrot and stick approach which is the recommended practice world over when dealing with unarmed civilians."