Residents flee community after killing of soldiers

Several families in Abonnema in Akuku Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State started fleeing their homes on Sunday over fear Nigerian Army could attack their town after gunmen killed two soldiers there on Saturday night.

Multiple sources among the locals confirmed the disturbing development to Premium Times, a week after several persons were killed by soldiers retaliating the killing of a colleague by armed hoodlums in Abonnema, Akuku Toru LGA of Rivers State.

“That is true,” said Omoni Nnamdi, spokesperson for the police in Rivers State. “Everybody is aware of that (that residents were fleeing following the killing of soldiers).”

Mr Nnamdi, however, said it was an army “business” and explained the police could not make an official statement before the army.

This paper understands the police in Rivers are wary of speaking on the matter as the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army based in Port Harcourt is yet to react.

Gunmen, reportedly wearing army camouflage according to security sources, attacked a military checkpoint called Samson Jack Checkpoint along Obonoma-Abonnema Road Saturday night.

In the wake of the attack, two soldiers were left dead and the gunmen allegedly made away with army rifles. Other soldiers fled and sustained injuries as they were hit by surprise.

The deadly attack on the soldiers compelled families to leave their homes for safety somewhere else on Sunday morning.

The Saturday attack came just a week after the bloody election day incident involving hoodlums and soldiers in the town.

The army confirmed they killed six persons whom they called hoodlums as a reprisal carried out after a soldier was killed in an ambush.

But residents said more than six persons were killed.

Therefore, when two soldiers were again killed by gunmen, fear of reprisal by the army engulfed the land, forcing a mass exit Sunday morning.

- Premium Times