Bayelsa invasion: Eleven bodies recovered after soldiers raid Igbomotoru community

Eleven bodies have been discovered in Igbomotoru, a community in the Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa State, following an invasion by soldiers onboard five gunboats yesterday. The soldiers reportedly razed three houses suspected to be the hideout of a militant leader allegedly involved in the killing of military personnel on a rescue mission in Delta State.

According to a community source, eleven corpses have been recovered, with many others still unaccounted for as of the time of filing the report last night.

The troops allegedly stormed the community, firing indiscriminately at residents who were relaxing on the jetty before proceeding to set fire to the three buildings suspected to be the hideout of the said militant leader.

“The military invasion has had a grave impact on the people. Lives have been lost, and properties destroyed. Even after the attack, life in that community can never be the same,” the source lamented.

“This weekend was scheduled for the burial of one of my late uncles. We have already made arrangements for food, drinks, music, speedboat, and canopies. But now, due to this unfortunate incident, the burial can no longer take place.

“In fact, some of the individuals we’ve made payments to are insisting that if we change the date, additional charges will apply. Isn’t that a significant loss? We now have to scramble for more funds, assuming peace is restored to the community.

“I appeal to the federal and state governments to intervene in this matter. We are not involved in whatever happened in Delta State. The international community should come to our aid,” the source pleaded.