Why we are carrying out military operation in Oyigbo—Army

Six soldiers were killed by suspected to be IPOB in Oyigbo, their weapons carted away–Army Spokesman

*We are conducting searches to recover stolen weapons to protect our innocent Citizens

BY IBRAHIM BAKARE

6 Division of the Army headquarters in has revealed that  Six of its Officers were killed and their weapons carted away by suspected members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on the guise of #EndSARS protest in Oyigbo, Oyigbo Local Government area of Rivers.

The Army explained that it operations in Oyigbo is not targeted at innocent persons but criminals who killed innocent persons who were killed Six Officers and carted away their weapons.

 Major Charles  Ekeocha, the 6 Division of Nigerian Army Public Relations Officer, APRO, told a Port Harcourt based radio station, Nigeriainfo fm  that Army lost Six Officers  during the attack in Oyigbo by the hoodlums suspected members of IPOB and their weapons carted away. 

“Our operation in Oyigbo is not targeting innocent persons. Six of our soldiers  were killed and their weapons were carted away. It was really planned and executed. If we don’t retrieve  the weapons  they could be used on innocent citizens of that area and in other parts of Nigeria”.

Reacting to the allegations on Humanrights abuse by Soldiers, for instance, bursting into people home forcefully, Major Charles Ekeocha said: “The Places the soldiers are bursting into were possible hideouts for criminals and weapons.

“What we are doing stop and search to see whether can recover those rifles from the socalled IPOB members. We very professional about it”.

Meanwhile, residents of Oyigbo in Oyigbo local government area of Rivers State are now passing through anguish for the past one week since the joint Operation between Police and Military to mop the area and fish suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

Panic gripped residents in Oyigbo as at yesterday as  Police helicopters and Airforce jet hover airspace of the community. All the exit and entry routes of into the community had been blocked by soldiers who have embarked on house to house search.

The operation was declared to fish out hoodlums who under the guise of ENDSARS protest went on wanton killings and destruction of public and private properties on Wednesday October 21 night invaded Oyigbo Police Area Command, killed three Policemen, two Soldiers  and  burnt three stations.

In total according to the Police records, about 50 vehicles parked inside the station, a State High Court were burnt down.

Governor Nyesom Wike imposed 24 hours Curfew and ordered the deployment of soldiers immediately.

Since the imposition of the curfew the residents, especially those residing in Oyigbo Urban have complained of the difficulties they are facing.

The 24 hours curfew  has been serious economic and social challenges in the daily lives of the people of Oyigbo three markets in the area have been shut down as well as shops, Pharmacies and Petrol Stations.

Some of the residents complained that they were dying of hunger and appealed to the Governor to relax the curfew  to enable them restock and take care of their medical needs.

According to a Journalist with one national dailies who also trapped in Oyigbo quotes residents as saying; “Many of us were taken unawares by the curfew. Many residents were not able to restock . All the markets were shutdown, the banks are not working, there is no electricity, filling stations are not selling fuel and there is no way many of us can charge our phones.

“The curfew came without prior notice. Many residents are dying of hunger and starvation. Many of the residents who are sick cannot access drugs or medical facilities. I am on BP drugs and my stock is exhausted I cannot restock because of the curfew. All the markets are shutdown, the pharmacies are not open this is really a bad situation. As it stands now we are at the mercy of God,” he said.

“The residents were taken unawares by the curfew many of us have exhausted our food supplies and there is no way to restock because of the curfew.

“Those who are sick cannot get medication. Children are crying of hunger because there is no food to give them. We are suffering we want our dear governor to have mercy on us and relax the curfew,” she said.

POS and Mobile banking operators, our reporter learnt, have taken the advantage of the lockdown to exploit the residents who could not access banks ATM machines to withdraw money.