The Nigerian Army, yesterday, justified its invasion of Ogoni in Rivers State, saying that its security informant in the state was allegedly buried alive by the leader of a cult group known as Island cult.
The army made the clarification as the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions and House of Representatives Committee on Army, began separate investigations into the invasion of Ogoni land by the military, yesterday.
In his presentation, the traditional ruler of Mene Bua-Yeghe community in Ogoniland, Chief Barinaada Gbaranee, said “the military occupation of Ogoniland escalated on February 23 to the etent that the army engaged in the brutal killing of men, women and children numbering about 12.”
Also, the Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO, defended its petition against the Nigerian Army before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, led by Senator Samuel Anyanwu (PDP, Imo East), as the committee promised to ensure a thorough investigation of the allegations.
According to Gbaranee, the unlawful occupation of his territory and three other communities by soldiers started February 22, adding that military personnel invaded his community, the house of a former Niger Delta militant, Mr. Solomon Ndigbara, and vandalized his cars, buildings without a just cause.
According to him, prior to the invasion and attack, the soldiers had allegedly arrested Ndigara’s wife and siblings.
He said: “The military occupation of Ogoniland escalated on February 23 to the extent that the army engaged themselves in the brutal killing of men, women and children numbering about 12.
My subjects now scattered inside bush — Monarch
“The sporadic shootings against the harmless and defenceless peace-loving people of Ogoniland led to the displacement of natives, of even neighbouring towns as Zaakpon and Wiiyakara communities, in fact, even extending up to Babbe Kingdom.
“Consequent upon this, all economic activities in Ogoniland, especially Bori town and other adjoining villages, have been grounded. Men, women and children have deserted their homes and are taking refuge in the bush and forest due to heavy presence of the military personnel, patrolling in armoured vehicles with sophisticated weapons.”
The traditional ruler, who noted that Ogoniland had remained peaceful before the invasion of the land by the military, however, urged the senators to help stop the tension and killings.
“The continued exposure of vulnerable men, women and children, certainly is beginning to cause hunger, sicknesses and diseases, the resultant effect Is sudden death,” he lamented.
Speaking for the CLO, the South-South Zonal Chairman of the group, Mr. Chinedu Uchegbu, who alleged that four communities in two councils in Ogoniland were affected in the military invasion, said the people of Yeghe, Zaakpo, Bori, and Babbe in the Gokhana and Khana councils were the victims.
According to the CLO leader, it is a worrisome situation that a Federal Government agency which ought to guarantee security for everybody in the society and which ought to maintain law and order, was being associated with plots to cause insecurity.
Security informant buried alive—Buratai
Meanwhile, testifying before the House Committee probe of the incident, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, said a security informant in Rivers State was allegedly buried alive by the leader of a cult group known as Island Cult.
Buratai also said about 18 persons had been arrested in connection with the alleged cult clashes in Gokhana and Khana Local Government Areas of the state, adding that several weapons and ammunition recovered from them.
The House Committee had invited the Chief of Army Staff over the petition by communities in Ogoniland and CLO, following a petition to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, against the Chief of Army Staff and some top army officials over the alleged unlawful demolition and vandalisation of the homes and property of Indigbara.
Presenting its case to the committee, the Chief of Army Staff, represented by the Chief of Civil/Military Affairs, Major General Rogers Nicholas, alleged that Indigbara, who he said was declared wanted by the police and army, had alleged that Solomon was responsible for most killings in the area and also responsible for the destruction at APC office in the area.
