Condemnation Trails Alleged Military Invasion of Bayelsa Town

Reactions continued to pour in yesterday over Friday’s alleged invasion of Bilabiri, Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State by military personnel who razed down several buildings over the killing of four naval personnel by suspected Niger Delta militants.

The four naval ratings were killed recently while on a rescue mission around the area to free some abducted foreigners, specifically around Agge coastal area.

Though military authorities in the region have kept mute over the incident, despite enquiries, it was learnt that the killing of the military personnel a few weeks ago, followed the interception of a dredger, Sterling Global, and an attempt by the military to recover the vessel.

The suspected pirates also abducted two Russian nationals and one Indian, ensuing in a confrontation leading to the killings and several injuries.

However, community sources said the incident caused fear among residents who have either fled into the bush or found their way into neighbouring Delta State, including the Paramount Ruler of Bilabiri Kingdom, King Paul Brakere-Seide, whose palace was said to have been completely torched.

“We were all in my palace when some of my subjects ran to me to inform me about military presence and asked us to run. I told them that I could not leave my palace, but they pressurised me to run that there were over 16 military gunboats at the waterside.

“As soon as I left my palace, they came and burnt down my palace and the house of my younger brother. They did not arrest anybody or leave any message. I have returned to my community to meet my palace burnt to ashes,” Brakere-Seide told journalists.

Reacting yesterday, the leadership of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Central Zone, condemned and frowned on the attack by the military, stressing that it was fast becoming a pattern.

IYC Chairman of the Central Zone, Kennedy Olorogun, lamented “the continuous display of uncivilised and unprofessional act of the Nigerian military towards the Ijaw people.”

“This is becoming unbearable. This attitude of hatred by the federal government to us cannot be seen in the north where insurgency is recorded daily,” he alleged in a statement signed on his behalf by the zone’s Information Officer, Kockman Kurobo.