Months after detaining Okuama community leaders, soldiers invaded the community on Monday morning in four gunboats and 11 speedboats, shooting randomly and killing three youths before looting food stores.
The soldiers also took away a big granite canoe, a sand dredger, and generating sets needed by the returning inhabitants.
A neighbourhood teenager who spoke with Vanguard after returning from his hideout described how the soldiers arrived in four gunboats and 11 speedboats, shooting intermittently.
They then arrived on land via the Okoloba community, having previously used drones to observe the community on Sunday.
The soldiers reportedly executed three youths, Ojeh Asah, Uwhubunor James, and Enavwodo Peter.
According to our source, “This morning at about 3am, we got the information that about 15 gunboats are coming to our area, and we all came out to observe, and we were awake from that time to about 6am.
“As the day broke, we suddenly saw a drone probably taking video clips of the entire community. We were afraid, and some women were running into the creek for safety; they called to inform us that 3 gunboats were in the river.
“And the next thing we heard were gunshots by the military, and we all have to run into the bush. Before we came out from the bush, the army packed away every item in the provisions stores in the community and destroyed our garri.
“They took our generators, PoS Machine, and pumping machine. The dredger that is currently working in the community was taken along. They also went away with the granite boat that came to the community.
“What we saw was that they were putting on military uniforms and red colour camouflage. They came with about four-gun boats and 11-speed boats, and they destroyed houses. The garri we were processing at the premises of the Anglican Church were all destroyed,” he added.
Recall that the Okuama community was demolished in March 2024 by Nigerian Army forces in retaliation for the murder of 17 military servicemen by unknown gunmen near the community.
Every building in the Okuama community, including hospitals, schools, and private homes, was destroyed. Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo, Chief Belvis Adogbo, Mr. James Oghoroko, Dennis Okugbaye, Pa Anthony Awhemuria, and Mrs. Rita Akpata were arrested by military personnel between the 18th and 20th of August and are still in unknown confinement.
