Troops have reportedly invaded Lutegbene community inn Ekeremor local government area of Bayelsa State.
It was reported that gunmen suspected to be sea pirates on Sunday attacked an oil barge along Lutegbene waterways leading to the death of four soldiers escorting the barge and two civilians while others escaped with bullet wounds.
Residents of the community said troops invaded the area and asked them to produce the perpetrators.
They said angry soldiers had started burning some houses in the area due to residents’ inability to identify the suspected hoodlums.
They said the soldiers were escorting the barge from Port Harcourt in Rivers State to Warri in Delta State when it came under attack.
A community source said: “The soldiers were escorting a barge when gunmen appeared on a speedboat and opened fire on them. They killed four soldiers and two civilians. Others were injured.
“As I am talking to you, soldiers are burning down some houses in the area because they asked the residents to produce the killers.”
Last month, soldiers invaded Bilabiri I and II communities in the same Local Government Area and razed down houses following the killing of four naval ratings by unknown gunmen.
Speaking after the destruction of the community by the soldiers, Chairman of Alabini Rural Development Area, (RDA) Frank Seide, whose house was also razed during the military action, condemned the invasion.
He described it as “an action taken too far,”, calling on the federal government to take steps to address the suffering of the displaced people affected.
Seide, who also condemned the kidnappings and killing of some military personnel in the area by some youths, said it’s sad and regrettable that innocent people, including women and children, are suffering from the action.
He added that some of the indigenes who fled into the forest were still reported missing.
He said, ” It is unfortunate that things in the Niger Delta area are always taken too far. As a community and people, we condemn the military invasion of Bilabiri communities, just as we also condemn in strong terms the heinous crime of some of our disgruntled youths.
“I am one of the victims of the invasion as my building was also razed for no just cause and it is very sad and condemnable and should be condemned by all well-meaning Nigerians.
“As we speak, some of our brothers and sisters who fled are still missing while others including myself, our monarch and others in the Bilabiri 1&2 Communities have been displaced.
“We are calling on the federal and state governments, representatives at all levels to come to our aid at this period.”
