THE GORY TALES OF RECENT ARMY INVASION OF OGONILAND

These children are my life investment. I don’t have any child as a militant

TONY JOHN, PORT HARCOURT

Port Harcourt, Nigeria, April 18, 2016 – Emotions welled up today at the Rivers State House of Assembly, in Port Harcourt, as Ogonis who were affected by recent military invasion of communities, in February, 3016 testified before the House of Representatives Committee on Army.

Members of the committee were stunned when victims and relatives of affected families all decked in black attires to mourn their departed husbands, brothers and sisters broke down in tears for several minutes, crying and calling on government to save them from invasion by Nigerian Army.

It took the committee several minutes to pacify them to enable them realize the objective of the visit. It was indeed a tough moment for both the visiting lawmakers and onlookers, who were overwhelmed by the pains of those affected by the invasion.
Members of the House Committee on Army, who also paid a courtesy visit to the State Governor, Nyesom Wike, and Speaker, House of Assembly, said they were in the state on fact-finding mission.

Addressing members of the House of Assembly, Chairman of the Committee, Rima Shawulu Kwewum, said the visit became imperative following weighty nature of allegations leveled against the Nigerian Army. He noted that members of the Nigerian Army have been deployed to 36 states of the federation, but that their obligation remains to protect the nation from any aggression.

According to him, “We are not here to pursue anybody’s agenda. We are here because of the allegation against the Nigerian Army”, he said. In his reply, Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Dabo Adams, charged members of the committee to be transparent in their fact-finding mission, especially as it relates to alleged Army killings in Ogoniland.

First to give testify at the sitting was the Civil Liberty Organisation (CLO), which was represented by the Chairman, CLO, South-South, Karl Chinedu.

He told the Committee that CLO filed the petition based on reports submitted to the organisation by communities and families of victims affected when the Nigerian Army invaded the land. In his testimony, traditional ruler of Yeghe Community, Chief Barinaada Gbaranee alleged that the invasion has engendered unrest in his kingdom and he is now finding Herculean to control his subject.

He reiterated that Mr. Solomon Ndigbara was a peaceful citizen of Yeghe, adding that exit of the Army in his community would lead to jubilation. He said that there was no crisis in his community to demand Army invasion and victimisation. The paramount ruler stressed that the Nigerian Army lied in their statement that they were attacked while responding to distress calls.

He stated that over 30 persons died as a result of the Army onslaught in Yeghe and other neighbouring communities. Legal representative to Chief Ndigbara, Barr. Eugene Odey, noted that the manner and operations of the Army in Yeghe Community does not conform to the 1999 Constitution. He said his client was not convicted and should be protected by the amnesty programme, urging the Committee to direct the army to leave Ogoniland.

“Army should be withdrawn from Yeghe community, and the property of my client should be restored. The manner of operation is what we are questioning”, he explained, adding that his client would appear to testify in the public if his safety and security can be guaranteed. Husband of the pregnant woman, allegedly shot dead by the Army on February 22, 2016 was also at the hearing to testify against the army.

Sorbarinor Dornubari Nwibani, 27 years old widow, alleged that her husband was shot dead by soldiers and called on the Committee to carry out a thorough investigations on the issue. Another victim, Thomas Nwafor from Ebonyi State, told the lawmakers that he lost his two younger brothers, Chinedu and Kelechi Nwafor, as well as two others.

According to him, four of them died on the spot. Israel Iganali, 25 years, told the Committee that his elder sister’s husband, Kenneth, was shot dead at No. 1 Taabaa Road, Bori. “I witnessed everything that happened”, he told the committee, pausing at intervals to console himself as tears welled up his cheeks. Goodluck, said he survived by the whiskers, stressing that he was in the midst of dead people.

For Sampson, Paramount Ruler of Zaakpon Community, one person was shot dead and three sustained bullet wounds. Justus Nwika an elderly man told the committee that his son, Joel, was killed by soldiers, at Taabaa junction.
“These children are my life investment. I don’t have any child as a militant”, Nwika said, to buttress his anger about operation of the Nigerian Army.