Outrage, as Ogonis protest soldiers’ invasion

Miffed by the raid of the military of two local governments, Gokana and Khana, the people  Ogoni in Rivers State, took to the streets in large numbers on Saturday to protest what they called the invasion of their area.

Armed with white caskets, the protesters condemned the invasion of Yeghe community in Gokana by soldiers, insisting that the action of the military was politically motivated.

According to them, some indigenes of the area lost their lives during the two days the raid lasted.

Read also: Magnus Abe blames PDP leaders for Ogoni crisis

Continuing, the protesters said eighteen persons died as a result of the invasion while the home of a former militant leader in Yeghe community, Solomon Ndigbara, was razed and the campaign office of Senator Magnus Abe, was also torched.

Senator Lee Maeba, one of the leaders in Ogoniland condemned the invasion, insisting that the action of the military was unnecessary. He called on the Federal Government to immediately withdraw the soldiers, who he said are illegally operating in Ogoniland.

“My appeal to the Federal Government from this day is for the withdrawal of soldiers operating illegally in Ogoniland. All military personnel should go”, Meaba said.

On his part, the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Mr. Kenneth Kobani, an indigene of the area, said the invasion of the area by the military was undemocratic, expressing shock that some members of the All Progressives Congress supported the invasion of Ogoni communities by the military.

 

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