Three feared dead as Police, Soldiers raid Rivers communities

*** We did not raid any community says Army spokesman

An alleged joint security raid of some communities in Andoni local government area of Rivers state has resulted in the dead of three persons, while two others were reportedly injured.

The operation which comprised the police, the military and members of a local security outfit, the Andoni Security Peace and Advisory Council also caused panic among residents of the affected communities.

Among communities raided include Ajakajak, Ibot-Irem, Samanga, Dema, Oturia, and Otuafu.

The raid which took place on Sunday while residents were preparing for church service came as a surprise as the security operatives came in gunboats.

Some witnesses said the security team was searching for some youths involved in alleged criminal activities, noting that they heard loud gunshots coming from different directions in their communities.

President General of the Obolo Youths Coalition, Ijaonama Mkpon Amon, told our correspondent on the telephone that three persons who died in the raid were from his community, Ajakajak, while two others sustained life-threatening injuries in the Ibot-irem community.

Mkpon condemned the invasion and advised security agencies to go after their target rather than inflicting harm and killing innocent people who had nothing to do with crime, saying the constant raid of Andoni was traumatic to the people.

“Obolo is an ethnic group that cuts across Rivers and Akwa Ibom as well as some parts of Abia States. The military should understand that Ajakajak is a community and not a family if they were looking for a particular person.

“More than two thousand people live in that community. If you are coming to raid a community, it should be on target, not zigzag raiding. The three persons who died are from Ajakajak, my community.

“They (security operatives) need to work with the community people to differentiate innocent residents from those involved in criminal activities instead of raiding the entire area.

“This raid is condemnable and I call on the Inspector General of Police and the Chief of Army Staff to intervene and investigate this incident. They should tell their men not to make Andoni a war zone and for them to stop brutalizing our people.”

When contacted, spokesman for 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major Charles Ekeocha, said the raid was not carried out by soldiers of the division.

“Well, what happened was that we (6 Division) did not carry out that operation. Maybe another security agency did,” Ekeocha stated.