COMMUNITY WAR! APPROXIMATELY 18 DECLEARED DEAD IN A GUN BATTLE

The Residents of Gokana and Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria have been living in a great suspense with many already evacuating the community as soldiers and militants are brutally dwelling in  gun-battle in the heart of the community that has actually lead to the loss of many lives 'roughly 18.' in Ogoniland.


The battle started when some Soldiers attached to the Brigade had on Monday raided the residence of a former militant leader in Yeghe community 'Solomon Ndigbara' obviously in search of the former war marshal.

According to one of the Residents, “One of the victims was shot in front of RIVPOLY Secondary School and his corpse was taken away. As I speak, 18 persons have died so far as a result of the crisis. Everybody is living in fear and I pray that these shootings will come to an end,” and that the death toll might get worse today if they are not cautioned, also saying that some people in Gokana suffered serious gunshot wounds during the gun battle.

However, the Chairman of Gokana LGA, Mr. Austin Sor, expressed his dissatisfaction over the development, describing the action of the soldiers in Yeghe as “provocative”.

Painfully, a resident 'John Baridon' from Khana LGA also claimed that his younger brother was shot dead in Zaakpon community on his way from work.

Meanwhile, the Commander of the Brigade 'Brig. Gen. Stevenson Olabanji' told reporters on Tuesday that “Around 12 noon on Monday, we received reports of gunfire in Yeghe community, Gokana Local Government Area, and I immediately dispatched my Commanding Officer to investigate the incident.

He continued, “On reaching the house of Solomon Ndigbara, who had been declared wanted by the army for gun-running, some hoodlums fired at the commanding officer with the intent to kill. “The attack on the commanding officer led to a gun battle between our forces and hoodlums, which resulted to them (hoodlums) being chased out from the community.

And finally concluded that “We learnt that the hoodlums, who fled Yeghe community, later went to Bori community in Khana Local Government Area and burnt a campaign office belonging to the APC.”