Anxiety has enveloped Ajakurama in Ovia
South West Local Government of Edo State as operatives of the Joint Task
Force in the Niger Delta stormed the community demanding the
whereabouts of a repentant militant, Ojuemi Perediseghabofa.
The security operatives, who reportedly
stormed the community at about 1am on July 18, 2013, took away
Perediseghabofa’s wife when they could not locate the ex-militant.
Counsel for the ex-militant, Mr. Famous Maka, stated this in a petition to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika.
In the petition obtained on Sunday, Maka
said the Ajakurama people had been in fear since the soldiers visited
the community and left behind a message that they would again storm the
area if the ex-militant did not report to their base at Ajide.
Maka, who urged the Army chief to stop
any further invasion of the community, said the JTF operatives could
have used the Amnesty Office to invite the ex-militant for interrogation
if he did anything wrong.
He said, “During this unexpected
invasion, virtually all Ajakurama people slept in the bush.
Consequently, one Mr. Bewo Itiphan died due to psychological shock.
“All the ex-militant’s rooms were
searched, the window glass were shattered and his 32 inches flat screen
television and many other things destroyed. Before they left the
community, they left a warning that if the community, within 24 hours,
does not produce the ex-militant, they will burn down the community.
“Sir, what is baffling in the whole
matter is that the ex-militant leader is one of the persons that
embraced the Federal Government Amnesty programme. He can be officially
invited by any government agencies to answer any allegation against
him.”
Meanwhile, Maka said the soldiers later released the ex-militant’s wife.
When our correspondent contacted the
Public Relations Officer in charge of the ‘4’ Brigade Benin, Captain
Rosalyn Managbe, she said she was not aware of the invasion.
0 Comments