Rivers community calls on Wike to resume school, church activities after 3years of air raid (exclusive)

√ Demands end to military invasion

Indigenes of the Iduoda community in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State have called on the state governor, Nyesom Wike to prevail on the military and thugs parading under the guise of oil surveillance contractors to stop harassing the peaceful community.

They also appealed to the governor to resume school, and church activities and returned all displaced people in the community as a result of the constant military harassment back to the community.

Recall, On May 27, 2019, there was a raid in a community in which people were killed. In November 2020 another air raid occurred in which a boy and other five people were reportedly killed.

“Again, On June 15, 2022, another attack occurred again and a chief was killed. On June 27, they entered the community and shot and killed people. They broke doors and stole money worth N30 million and people were rendered homeless. Over 30 people have been killed in these attacks.” according to the community.

It was gathered that since the military aerial bombardment of the community, Schools and Church activities remained closed to date.

The bombardment nearly turned the community into a desert in 2019. Many were killed, hundreds of houses burnt and survivors fled the community to date. A probe into the incident proved that the government-owned primary school, a private nursery school and the five churches in the community remained shut down as residents, pupils and worshipers fled to nearby communities for safety.

The CDC chairman of the community, Mr Sobore Frank, in an interview said they had a nursery and primary schools but the children no longer attend the schools due to constant military invasion which had led to deserting of the community by residents, he lamented the same for the Churches in the community.

“Iduoda Community has been in existence for a long, it is an ancient community. This is our only home and we have no second home. We don’t do bunkering in this community. Where they are doing the bunkering is about two kilometres away from the community.

“We have a nursery and primary Schools but the children no longer attend the schools due to constant military invasion which has led to deserting of the community by residents. This applies to the churches in the community.

He said their major occupations are farming and fishing, adding that they were yet to point out the government’s motive for the constant invasion which had led to the killing of Chiefs and youths in the community.

According to the CDC chairman, the incident on June 15, 2022, is making it the fourth time the community had been attacked by government forces and suspected thugs.

“We have reached out to relevant authorities including the Local Government chairman all to no avail. The government should invite those behind the incessant invasion for questioning and also produce military officers behind these ugly acts. It is part of our demands that government should come and rebuild the houses that were burnt during the air raid and cash compensation for families that have lost their loved ones.

Corroborating, another indigene of the community John Peter, also frowned at security agents for constantly invading the community in the guise of fighting illegal oil bunkering.

He said the bunkering site was not situated in the community but a neighbouring community. He expressed disappointment with security agents for constantly invading the peaceful community.

“We have lost over 22 innocent persons in the various invasion in the community. I call on the Rivers and Federal Governments to do the needful by paying compensation and rebuilding the houses that were been destroyed by the air raid.”