Residents of the communities of Emelego, Ogboloma, and Okolomade in the Abua/Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State have fled the area after gunmen killed two military personnel nearby.
According to Nicholas Gilbert, the Adada community’s chief, the residents evacuated because of concern about harassment or intrusion by security forces.
He claims that the inhabitants are currently dozing off on their respective farms.
He bemoaned the fact that they were in a dangerous situation because they had no shelter as a result of the rain.
He bemoaned the absence of a police station and security presence in the area for more than 20 years, which he claimed was to blame for the region’s ongoing kidnappings and murders.
Gilbert begged the state government to assist in resolving the situation so they could go back to their houses because they were all stranded in the jungle.
I’m in the middle of a bush right now, and it’s pouring down rain while I speak to you. In the bush, everyone is drenched.
“What happened in Adada has been happening since 2008,” All these wicked boys have been harming us.
“One Emmanuel Okiri was shot and killed that year, and the government didn’t come to ask us how. Again in 2009, something occurred. I went to the police station in Abua to report it, but no one showed up.
“Again, it happened in 2013, and I went to the Abua police station and complained. Five boys were shot on December 24 by unidentified men. I went to Abua, reported the situation, and requested assistance, but no one showed up.
“I was urged to carry some cash for transportation. I returned after telling them I was out of money. We are going through the same thing right now.
“We’ve heard whispers that someone is threatening to come and set the neighbourhood on fire. There have been reports of widespread arrests.
“They have taken several persons into custody in Ogoloma and other places. Inside the jungle, we are moving erratically.
“I informed the King’s Highness. He informed me that a meeting will take place by tomorrow.
“We are pleading with the state administration to intervene and calm the situation. However, the military can arrive and investigate to determine what happened, who was involved, and who committed the crime.
We ourselves are at a loss for what to do, he continued.
OBASANJO NEWS24 learned that on Tuesday, gunmen killed two military personnel and took two firearms from them.
They were associated with one of the contractors working on the state government’s Ekaago-Ogboloma-Adada Road project.
OBASANJO NEWS24 also discovered that the two troops were killed by gunmen who were attempting to kidnap the foreigner in charge of the project.
