Sporadic shooting in oil rich Ugborodo Community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State have allegedly left more than three persons dead and others reported missing amidst various degrees of injuries sustained during a daylight raid by officers of the Nigerian Navy.
Blank NEWS Online sources reveal that some officers and men of the Nigerian Navy who arrived in gunboats raided the oil-rich community Saturday afternoon.
But a government statement has refutted the report, claiming that “Delta State government wishes to state categorically that there has been no shooting of any form in Warri or environ.”
The state government said it had directed the deployment of security personnels to the area, following the outcome of the state security council meeting held in Warri on 30th December 2013. “Some of the forces were deployed today, 4th January, 2014. None of the forces has had cause to shoot any gun and nobody has been injured or dead.”
A dependable source disclosed that the community has been embroiled in leadership tussle ocassioned by factions of the Community Trust over proceeds from the proposed $26billion gas plant slated for the community, just as allegations of illegal bunkering and crude oil facity vandals have reportedly been linked to the area.
An indigene who pleaded anonimity alleged that the military were being used to silence those opposed to a faction backed by the Delta State Government in the leadership tussle over the Ugborodo Community Trust.
Another community source said that Saturday’s operation was carried out in three gunboats with 60 soldiers and three officers led by a naval captain, shortly after a meeting between security operatives and leaders of the community.
The Naval raiders were said to be made up of a combined squad of the Nigerian Navy, NNS Delta and the Forward Operation Base (FOB) in Escravos who allegedly surrounded the town and shot indiscriminately into houses.
Another community source said, “Naval personnel have just killed some innocent Nigerians who were passengers on a commercial boat instead of protecting them,” while a community leader, Mr. Femi Uwawa confirmed that two of the three corpses of the victims (Ilaje indigenes) who were killed while going to their home town, had been recovered.
The raider had also allegedly fired tear gas canisters, making most women and children to flee into the bush while some jumped into the water to escape the attack, a situation which an eyewitness say could lead to more deaths.
A prominent leader of the community, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said prior to the invasion, the head of the FOB in Escravos, Captain Ezete led a team for a meeting with the community leaders at the Aruton Public Field.
“We told him that our people are peace loving people and we want the peace to continue. We only asked that they free our spiritual head, who is languishing in detention because of his opposition to some persons in the community.
“It was therefore surprising when the military went back and surrounded our town and started shooting indiscriminately into the air. They further fired teargas on our women and children, leading to a stampede.
“I cannot tell you how many persons have been killed at the moment, but one corpse of an Ilaje boy was recovered from the sea front and taken away by the Navy.”
The NNS Delta Base Operations Officer, Lieutenant Ibrahim Yohanna is yet to comment on the incident, despite his Friday denial of a planned invasion where he said the troops were on ground to provide security for a company that was drilling water boreholes in the community.
Meanwhile, a government press statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Comrade Ovuozorie Macaulay and tagged RE: HEAVY SHOOTING IN WARRI reads:
“The attention of the Delta State Government has been drawn to media reports especially the on-line media of heavy shooting in Warri. The State wishes to state categorically that there has been no shooting of any form in Warri or environ.
In line with the agreement with NNPC for provision of security by the State Government for the $16 Billion Gas City Project in Ogidigben, the State Security Council at its last meeting in Warri on 30th December 2013, directed the security agencies to deploy some forces to the area to ensure the safety of lives and properties as the construction of the project will start in the next few days. Some of the forces were deployed today, 4th January, 2014. None of the forces has had cause to shoot any gun and nobody has been injured or dead.
The State Government is aware that some enemies of progress are out to thwart this laudable project of President Goodluck Jonathan which will form the economic bedrock for Nigeria.
Warri has been very safe and it is on record that there were no insecurity incidences in Warri and other parts of Delta State throughout the Christmas or New Year period. The Government shall not be intimated by anyone and all those spreading such seditious falsehood should desist from it.
All law abiding citizens are advised to go about their normal activities and we shall ensure safety of their lives and properties.”
Signed:
Comrade Ovuozorie Macaulay,
Secretary to the State Government
