Emma Okonji
Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has confirmed that at least 20 youths were killed in Igbomotoru Community in Bayelsa State, during a military raid in the community in search of killers of the 17 military men brutally murdered last month in Okuama Community of Delta State.
The governor said this after visiting Igbomotoru community on Tuesday with a government-led team to assess the effect of the raid, weeks after it was carried out by the military.
During the visit, the governor assured peace among members of the community, who had already taken refuge in the forest close to the community, but had started returning home.
“People can return to the community and go about their normal businesses, without any form of fear of harassment from the military, because the military will not hurt innocent people.
“The state will continue to engage with the federal government and the military high command in order to address the issue. The military high command has assured me that the military will not raise down Igbomotoru community like they did in Odi community some years ago when similar incidence occurred.
“The era of militancy is over. We are now in the era of intellectual engagement. I have been reliably informed that over 20 youths have been killed, and only one house, suspected to be the home of Mr. Endurance Amagbeyi, who has been declared wanted by the military for his involvement in the killing of the 17 military men, was raised down. All other buildings in the community were not destroyed,” Diri said.
A member of the governor’s team that visited Igbomotoru community, who is a former head of re-integration of the Presidential Amnesty Programme in the state and former Secretary General of Ijaw Youth Council, Mr. Alfred Kemepado, shared his assessment of the visit on ARISE NEWS Channels.
Although he said there was still military presence in Igbomotoru community, he explained that relative peace hadreturned to the community.
“I can assure Nigerians that only one building was raised down, believed to be the building that was housing Endurance Amagbeyi, who is now on the run. The governor has already confirmed that at least 20 people were killed in the community while they were fleeing for safety.
“But generally speaking, there is peace in the community during the visit. Our fears had been that the presence of the military in Igbomotoru community would lead to total destruction of the community, but that was not the case as buildings were intact as at the time of the visit. We have no reason to doubt the military that has promised to maintain peace of the community.”
