Armed soldiers invaded the Bayelsa State communities of Peremabiri, Akamabugo and Tikogbene in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the State on Wednesday, destroying over 43 houses and carting away three speedboats.
Peremabiri is the country home of a former militant leader, Eris Paul, popularly known in the Niger Delta as General Ogunboss.
The other two communities, Akamabugo and Tikogbene, neighbor Peremabiri.
The military invasion, according to concerned indigenes of Peremabiri, was allegedly coordinated by loyalists of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State.
Eyewitness accounts reported that soldiers numbering over 50 searched through the community for suspected members of the Niger Delta Avengers. In doing so, the soldiers beat up two youth leaders, Pastor Lucky and Bernard Ogunawei, to a state of coma.
While Bernard was later released with grievous injuries, Pastor Lucky was arrested and taken to an unknown destination.
Also destroyed in the attack were family homes of General Ogunboss, Million Gobo, Richard Marcus, Elkenah, Bernard Osunawei, and many others.
Contacted on the development, General Ogunboss said a preliminary investigation by his kinsmen revealed that the invasion was ordered by the present administration in the State following the political loyalty of the community to the All Progressive Congress (APC) during the last governorship election in the State.
The ex-militant alleged that though many of the youths and women of the community are on exile due to the repeated use of security personnel to intimidate and brutalize the people of the community, the recent attack is condemnable and should be investigated by the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Army Staff and President Muhammadu Buhari.
"The people of Peremabiri are not known to be involved in criminality and have never had anything to do with the Niger Delta Avengers. The Peremabiri people will never allow the PDP and the State government to intimidate them under any guise. We have the right to support the political party we want,” he said.
Culled From SaharaReporters
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