Insecurity: Indigenes flee communities after gunmen reportedly killed military men in Rivers

Indigenes of Emelego, Ogboloma, and Okolomade communities in the Abua/Odual local government area of Rivers State have fled after gunmen killed two military men.

Chief of the Adada community, Nicholas Gilbert, told journalists that the people fled the community for fear of harassment or invasion by security agencies.

According to Chief Gilbert, people in the community have vacated their homes over fear.

He lamented that the rain had left them in an unsafe condition as they had no shelter.

“As I’m talking to you now, I’m right in the bush, and heavy rain is falling on me. Everybody is wet in the bush.

“What happened in Adada has been happening since 2008. We have been suffering at the hands of all these bad boys.

“That 2008, one Emmanuel Okiri was shot dead, and the government did not come to ask us how. 2009 again, something happened; I went to Abua to the Police station and reported, but nobody came.

“Again, 2013, it happened; I went to Abua police station and reported. 2018, December 24, unknown men shot five boys. I went to Abua, reported, and asked for help, but nobody came.

“I was asked to bring some money because of transport. I told them I had no money, so I came back. Right now, we’re suffering the same thing.

“We hear rumours of threats to come and burn the community. We hear rumours of mass arrest.

“They have arrested some people in Ogoloma and elsewhere. We are running helter scattered inside the bush.

“I reported to the Highness of the kingdom. He told me by tomorrow; they’re going to have a meeting.

“We are begging the state government to come and calm things down. However, the military can find out what happened, who, and who committed the crime.

“We don’t know what to do.” He added.

Kemi Filani News gathered that gunmen killed two military men and stole two rifles from them last Tuesday.

The military men were attached to a contractor of the Ekaago-Ogboloma-Adada Road project being executed by the state government.