By Jimitota Onoyume

PORT HARCOURT—Bori, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area, Rivers State, was shut down, weekend, as residents took to the streets in protest over the military invasion of two communities in Ogoni that resulted in the death of some persons.

The protesters carried placards denouncing the military invasion. Some of them also carried mock coffins, saying that the military operations were politically motivated.

FILE

The Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers has, however, endorsed the presence of the military in the area, stating that it was in the interest of the people of the oil rich area.

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Lee Maeba, who addressed the protesting youths, condemned the invasion, saying that there was no reason for the invasion.

He called on the Federal Government to withdraw the military men operating in Ogoniland.

“My appeal from this day is that all military personnel illegally operating in Ogoniland should go,” he said.

Secretary to Rivers State Government, Mr Kenneth Kobani, also condemned the military operations, saying that it negated the tenets of popular democracy.

He urged Nigerians to join in condemning the operations, noting that it was shocking that some chieftains of All Progressives Congress, APC,  in the state had continued to support the military operations.

Kobani said: “What happened on those two days of rage, ought to have been condemned by all persons all round the country.”

It will be recalled that the military stormed Yeghe and Bori communities in Ogoni in search of an ex-militant leader and in the operations, about 17 persons were killed.

Meanwhile, the monarchs, when the Minister of Environment, Mrs. Amina Mohammed, in company of Almed Jubril, Minister of State for Environment and Sen. Magnus Abe visited the area in preparation for the commencement of implementation of the United Nations Environmental Assessment Programme report on Ogoni, said that the presence of the military in the area was to check criminal activities.