LIFE has returned to riverine communities in Delta and Bayelsa States, as soldiers, have relaxed the heavy siege to the riverine communities over the killing of a soldier at a checkpoint in Ogbogbagbene community, Burutu Local Government Area, penultimate Thursday.
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By Emma Amaize & Chancel Sunday
BOMADI—LIFE has returned to riverine communities in Delta and Bayelsa States, as soldiers, have relaxed the heavy siege to the riverine communities over the killing of a soldier at a checkpoint in Ogbogbagbene community, Burutu Local Government Area, penultimate Thursday.
But, the 8a.m., to 5p.m., curfew imposed in the wake of the stop and search operations is still in force at Ogbobagbene, where both vehicular and boat movements are prohibited beyond the specified time.
Meanwhile, Niger Delta Revolutionary Crusaders, NDRC, a militant group in the Niger Delta region, has called on youths in the region to stop armed confrontation with military personnel saying that soldiers were not the problem, but pawns in the elite conspiracy to plunder the resources of the region.
On the return of normalcy, investigations show that many traders, who fled the busy Bomadi Overside Market, the business hub of the area, after rampaging soldiers destroyed their goods, have returned.
Recounting his ordeal, one of them, Mr Christian Agu, an electronics/pharmaceutical dealer, said he was forced to lock up his shops to avoid being a victim of circumstances, adding that he returned because there was an indication of normalcy.
Provision dealers, Mr Moses Onyankeke and Madam Bright, also thanked God for the return of normalcy, stressing that if it had continued beyond the present level, it would have led to starvation and robbery in the area.
However, chairlady of the Bomadi-Overside Ogogoro Union, Mrs. Dogood Bribai, said: “We are about to hold an all-inclusive meeting of the union to take a final decision on the destruction of our goods by soldiers.
“I cannot tell you anything on my own now until after the meeting. We have to inform every member to be present at the meeting. So, wait until then,” she added.
One of our reporters, who visited Bomadi, said that there was free movement of vehicles on Ogbobagbene-Bomadi-Ohorhor Road, weekend, except for pedestrians, who were made to lift both hands while passing through the 222 Battalion Base at Bomadi-Overside and the military checkpoint at Ogbobagbene.
However, NDRC in a statement by the spokesperson, WOI Izon-Ebi, said: “This is 21st century and we strongly advise the youths that they do not have to kill military personnel to mop up guns because the era of physical confrontation is long gone.”
We equally advise Niger Delta youths and agitators to shun all acts of criminality and other social vices that are inimical to the socio-economic progress of the region.”
“The military personnel are suffering the same marginalization and oppression like us. Go to the military barracks all over the country and see for yourself how fallen heroes and brave soldiers’ wives and children are suffering. The families of these soldiers are totally neglected and abandoned to their fate, as there are no provisions for the welfare of their families,”
“We, therefore, urge the youths to shun armed confrontation with security personnel because the military personnel are equally cannon fodder in an elite conspiracy to steal and pillage the resources of the Niger Delta,” NDRC added.
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