Peace Finally Returns To Community As Residents Beg Soldiers Not To Leave
Normalcy has finally returned to Oyigbo community in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State two months after the oil-rich community was engulfed in crisis as a result of the #EndSARS protest.
Oyigbo, a cosmopolitan community lost its peace on October 21, 2020, when hoodlums, suspected to be members of the outlawed IPOB in the guise of #EndSARS protesters, killed three police officers attached to Oyigbo Area Police Command, burnt down the police station and over 50 vehicles.
The hoodlums also burnt another police station located at Umuebule and Afam. Another officer attached to Afam Police Station was also killed by the rampaging hoodlums. A High Court in Oyigbo, as well as a private hospital, were vandalised and set ablaze by the hoodlums.
The hoodlums also killed six soldiers attached to the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army who were in the community to restore peace.
Soldiers were later to invade the community where scores of persons lost their lives and properties worth millions of naira were destroyed.
The military later took over the entire community in a move to restore peace and avert further break down of law and order.
Governor Nyesom Wike, in a move to restore peace in the community, declared a 24-hour curfew while hundreds of residents suffered humanitarian crisis in the aftermath of the curfew.
But two months after the crisis, peace and security seem to have been restored in the area although residents of the area are calling on the government not to withdraw soldiers from the community.
Similarly, traditional rulers in the community have implored the Defence Headquarters not to withdraw soldiers deployed to restore peace in the area so as to prevent remnants of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), from regrouping.
The chiefs under the aegis of Ogbakor Oyigbo, have also urged all those who deserted the area to return as normalcy has been restored.
A high chief, Eze Ukwu III, Louis Okorie, said the community chiefs did not approve the withdrawal of soldiers from Oyigbo. He expressed serious concern that if soldiers are withdrawn, IPOB anarchists would unleash violence in the area.
“The Ogbakor Oyigbo General held a meeting recently and said they will not allow the removal of soldiers from Oyigbo. We met with the Local Government Chairman, Gerald Oforji, and informed him of our plight.
“We don’t want the Army to be withdrawn for the benefit of Oyigbo people. We need to be careful of the remnants of IPOB terrorists. We thank Governor Nyesom Wike for imposing a curfew, which has calmed down the situation in Oyigbo.”
In the same vein, High Chief, Lisbery Onyegorom, said the indigenes were astounded by the wanton destruction unleashed on their community by members of the outlawed, IPOB.
“We were surprised by the level of destruction by the IPOB. We are Rivers State and Niger Delta people. Our people are not members of IPOB. I am not aware of any Oyigbo indigene who is a member. We don’t allow that.
“Now, that the IPOB has killed some soldiers, all of them have ran away. The Army is investigating and fishing them out . Most of the IPOB members arrested have given vital information about the remnants.
“We are in support of the governor’s ban on IPOB activities across Rivers State and hoisting of IPOB flag.”
Onyegorom frowned at allegations of extrajudicial killings levelled against Nigerian Army by some persons working for some extraneous forces playing petty politics with the Oyigbo issue.
(Daily Trust)