By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

Niger Delta ex-agitator, ‘General’ Endurance Amagbein, has called on the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, to order a fresh and transparent investigation into the 2024 military invasion of Igbomotoru community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, which reportedly left about 80 people dead.

In a statement issued over the weekend in Abuja, Amagbein, popularly known as “Adaka Boro the Second,” said that while the world may have moved on, the families of those killed remain shattered and grieving nearly two years after the incident.

Describing the operation as an “unwarranted and unprovoked attack,” Amagbein said it targeted mostly vibrant young people full of promise. “Almost two years have elapsed since the Igbomotoru invasion, yet no single person has been charged to court,” he lamented.

He questioned the timing and rationale behind the March 17, 2024, operation, asking: “How quick was the investigation prompting the invasion of Igbomotoru… just three days after the Okuama incident?”

Amagbein also condemned the continued military presence in Igbomotoru, despite the withdrawal of personnel from Okuama nearly a year earlier. “It is sad that the military continues to occupy Igbomotoru… and we don’t know what is responsible for this siege,” he said.

He alleged that certain surveillance contractors, in collaboration with rogue military personnel, have targeted him with false allegations to secure lucrative contracts.

Calling for empathy and leadership from President Bola Tinubu, Amagbein appealed: “We call on President Bola Tinubu to be a father to the families of the 80 persons killed… and to ensure adequate compensation for the killings and destruction wrought upon the community during the raid.”

He expressed concern that Igbomotoru remains militarized under the pretext of preventing a repeat of the Okuama tragedy, resulting in oppression of innocent residents for political and territorial gain.

Amagbein urged the CDS and the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Mr. Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, to reopen investigations not only into Igbomotoru but also into related security operations in Okuama. “We want the final outcome of the investigations to be made public, so those falsely accused can go about their normal lives,” he said.

He also raised alarm over citizens reportedly held in undisclosed detention centres without trial, emphasizing their right to due process, legal representation, and humane treatment. “They have the right to fair hearing, and that’s why we want the CDS to be a father to all and reunite these people with their families,” Amagbein said.

The ex-agitator’s renewed call aligns with growing demands from Niger Delta stakeholders for accountability and justice over the Igbomotoru killings, a tragedy that continues to haunt the community.