As Rivers govt sets up committee to restore peace in Nweol
By: Felix Ikpotor
Following the recent deployment of soldiers to Ogoniland to fight the increasing insecurity created by some gangs, there had been reports of molestation of innocent citizens in the area.
To this end, the Ogonis Community Development Network which is a group based in the United State has described the situation as unacceptable.
On Saturday March 11, it was reported that soldiers molested women along the Biara axis in Gokana local government area while they were conducting their petty trade at about 7 PM.
The women were said to be sellers of fried yams, plantain, rice and other food items.
On the same day, soldiers were reported to have destroyed the petty trade business of one Comfort around the community Secondary School in Yeghe, also in Gokana local government area.
The group through its president, Johnson Kuele said football viewing centers were being forced to shut down and in one center, precisely in Yeghe, the television used for viewing football matches was taken away by soldiers.
They further said one victim who was detained, and prefers not to be named for fear of persecution, adding that he got bail with the sum of NGN30,000.00 on Monday morning after he was arrested from his shop in Nweol in Gokana local government.
The body in a release made available to this publication said, “We consider these early signs of abuses and molestation against civilians to be very disturbing, unacceptable and urge the army to focus mainly on checks to prevent arms movement and crime”.
It maintained that they are collecting more information on the activities of soldiers recently deployed to Ogoniland and will continue to update the public on cases of abuse in the area.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government through the office of the Special Adviser to the governor on Conflict Resolution has set up a five- man committee to pray for peace in Nweol Community in Gokana Local Government of Rivers State.
The Committee is headed by Bishop Monday Needam and is expected to plan a date for prayer for the restoration of peace in the community.
Special Adviser to the governor on Conflict Resolution Hon. Okori Abelekun set up the committee during a peace meeting among stakeholders of the community at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
He expressed the readiness of the Rivers State government to maintain peace in ogoniland.
The traditional ruler of Nweol Community, HRH Mene Dawo Baribor Sam, lamented that the community, known for its peaceful nature, is now a shadow of itself as most people have gone on exile as a result of criminal activities of cultists.
The members of the council of chiefs and some clergymen also attended the peace meeting.
