By Akpokona Omafuaire, UGHELLI

The people of Orere community of Ewu Kingdom, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, have raised the alarm over the invasion of their community and torture meted out to them by soldiers in search of weapons and escaping refugees from Okuama community.

Vanguard gathered from locals that five military gunboats entered the community through the waterways. Also, four army Hilux pickups came through the Ewu axis, weekend.

According to a local boat transporter in the community, Mr. Adjoka Morrison, “I was at the riverside preparing for my daily business, when I saw the Nigerian Army with five gunboats and four Hilux loaded with soldiers.

“They held and bundled me into one of the gunboats and took me to the other river bank. As they were taking me into the community, they were shooting sporadically.

“They messed up so many of us. One of them punched my right eye.”

They questioned me at gunpoint — Community Chairman

Narrating his ordeal, Orere community Chairman, Mr. Michael Edameneri, said: “We woke up to hear the sound of gunshots at the waterside of our community. And I saw both old and the young running and scampering for safety.

“As the community Chairman, when I came out, I saw soldiers entering the community from different directions. I introduced myself to them and they took me to the town hall.

“Before we got there, they have assembled almost everyone for interrogation. Our former Chairman, Mr Ighoteguono, was injured in his head with their gun butt.

“They separated me from others and started interrogating me. They asked me to take them to where we keep our guns. I told them we do have any guns except for our local vigilantes.

“They were interrogating me at gunpoint and they were also having me on video. There was also a drone.

“They threatened to kill me if I should lie to them. But I insisted that we do not have any guns or refugees in the community.

“One of them told me that our people have been killing their colleagues at the riverside. So they are ready to kill anyone.

“While interrogation was going on, one of the soldiers used a key to open a storeroom at the town hall in search of what I could not explain. They went to my compound, destroyed doors, and busted many houses in Orere. But they found nothing.

“They also asked me to agree that the community should be burnt down because we are hiding people from them. Or they will take me along with them.

“They took me to the entrance of our community, where the shrine is situated. They destroyed and desecrated the entire place in search of guns and people.

“We are calling on the state and federal government to come to our aid because we a peace-loving community. We are not harbouring anyone here in Orere, neither do we have guns.”

Vigilante Chairman

The Vigilante unit Chairman in Orere community, Mr Udoji Sylvester said, “When I heard the gunshots, I came out from my house to inquire. Only for me to see soldiers everywhere.

“They shouted me down and ordered me to follow them to our town hall.

“On getting there, all the men, youths, and women were made to lie down. And I saw some of the soldiers brutalising them. I told them that we are a peaceful community and as vigilantes, we maintain peace at all times.

“Before I could finish speaking, slaps were landing on me like a common criminal. I got a torn lip. They seized and made away with 12 of our vigilante local guns with inscriptions of Ughelli South Vigilante on them.”

Okuama is 50km from here — President-General

The President-General of Orere community, Mr. Dennis Edafeamredje said, “My people told me that they were under siege by the Nigerian Army. From what I was told, the military men that came through land and water were over 200.

“They were shooting sporadically and that brought the fear. Many ran into the bush and up till this moment, some parents are still looking for their children.

“The scene was a traumatising one, because they have not experienced anything of this nature before. They were asking the community chairman about those that ran from Okuama to Orere.

“The distance from Orere to Okuama in nearly 50km. And there is nothing that connects us to Okuama in any way.

“Even if they are investigating what transpired in Okuama, the way and manner the Nigerian Army is going about is not right.

“I heard on the news when Mr President ordered full-scale investigation. And if the Nigerian Army is going on a full-scale investigation and they are killing everybody around, I don’t think they are investigating anything. Rather they are using fuel to put off the fire that is already burning.

“I want to beg the President, the Nigerian Army and Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, and other relevant authorities to let them know that Orere has no hand in whatever happening.

“They have come, they have searched and they did not find anything incriminating or implicating. So whatever they took from here, should be returned.

“And they should not come back to Orere again because it is a traumatising scene for our people because we speak, people are still missing.”

Vanguard News