Soldier’s death: Many still missing after Letugbene invasion

The row stirred by the military invasion of Letugbene community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State over the killing of a soldier and a civilian by yet-to-be identified gunmen is yet to settle, as members of the community now live in fear.

Many residents are reportedly still missing, as a large number of them had fled into the bush, while rubbles of property allegedly destroyed by soldiers still litter the community.

Reports said though many people were not aware when the incident happened, there were several victims when soldiers allegedly staged a reprisal, which the JTF had denied.

Concerned Ijaw stakeholders have continued to call for caution, including the Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative (IPDI) led by Comrade Austin Ozobo.

The national president of IPDI, who condemned the killing, advised the military to exercise restraint and separate innocent persons from criminals while their operation lasts.

The Joint Task force (OPDS) has, however, assured that the military was trained on professionalism and would not hunt innocent persons, or make them suffer consequencies caused by miscreants.

A statement released by the JTF reads in part: “A rescue team supported by gunboats was immediately dispatched to the area (after the attack) and they were able to locate and support two other soldiers who engaged the militants,” adding that “the current operations in the creeks and rivulets around the general area are surgical operations designed to fish out the perpetrators of that dastardly act some of whom fled into neighbouring communities.”

Bayelsa State Government, in the same vein, has empathised with innocent persons caught in the mayhem, particularly those who lost houses, store, fishing implements, canoes among other things which were their means of livelihood.