By Emma Amaize
WARRI—SOLDIERS of the Joint Task Force, JTF, on the Niger-Delta, at about 4.00 am invaded Ogodobiri community in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State  in search of wanted militant leader, “General” John Togo, who  is the head of the Niger-Delta Liberation Force, NDLF.

Vanguard learnt that a number of villagers, including the community chairman, Mr. Terry Youdowei, were beaten up by the soldiers, who stormed the community in three gunboats.

Indigenes of the community were reported to have fled the town, yesterday, morning as a result of the raid by the task force.
Mr. Youdowei in a chat with Vanguard said, “at least seven persons were harassed and beaten up by the soldiers, who continued their rampage for more than four hours.”

The community leader said, “We have told the JTF time without number that John Togo is not from Ogodobiri community, he is from Ayakoromor community, only his mother is from here and we have since banned John Togo from our town. JTF is aware of this, but, why they keep harassing us over him, we don’t know”.

Youdowei asserted that he overheard some of the soldiers saying that they came to Ogodobiri because they got information that some people were supplying John Togo food in his camp from the community. He, however, dismissed the information.

His words, “A lot of people are still trapped in the forest, this is a critical time as a lot of people came home for the voter registration exercise, which has not even commenced in our community up till today (Wednesday).