Bayelsa Slain Soldiers: Residents Flee over Fear of Military Reprisal

Residents of Foropa, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State where three soldiers were killed on Monday have started fleeing the area for fear of reprisal from security operatives.A gang of militants operating in a speedboat reportedly ambushed and killed the soldiers attached to the Joint Task Force (JTF) and carted away their weapons.However, it was learnt that the state Governor, Seriake Dickson had prevailed on those remaining in the community to stay, assuring them that the Nigerian nation would ensure their protection. The Caretaker Committee Chairman of Southern Ijaw Local Government Council, Mr. Joshua Macaiver, confirmed that the community had been living in fear since the incident. He however absolved the youths of the community of the killings, stating they would collaborate with the government and security agencies to arrest the perpetrators of the dastardly act.

In the same vain, a group known as NIGER Delta Avengers, yesterday,  listed some oil blocs which it claimed are owned by some prominent Nigerians, among whom are former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former Minister of Defence,  General Theophilus Danjuma (retd), late ex-Minister of Petroleum, Alhaji Rilwanu Lukman, a two-week ultimatum to shut down their operations and evacuate their workers from the locations or have them blown up. The militant group, pressing for a sovereign state of the Niger Delta, in a statement by its spokesperson, Mudoch Agbinibo, warned: “If at the end of the ultimatum you are still operating, we will blow up all the locations. It will be bloody. So, just shut down your operations and leave.”