Over 70 houses destroyed, 15 vehicles razed as Nigerian Soldiers raid suspected oil thieves in Imo community

 Over 70 houses destroyed, 15 vehicles razed as Nigerian Soldiers raid suspected oil thieves in Imo community Some victims of Friday’s raid ...

 Over 70 houses destroyed, 15 vehicles razed as Nigerian Soldiers raid suspected oil thieves in Imo community

Some victims of Friday’s raid by security operatives who claimed to be on the trail of illegal oil bunkerers at Izombe community in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State, have decried the attack as “unwarranted.’’ Those who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in separate interviews said they incurred great losses in the raid.

Two security operatives and a resident were feared killed in the raid, while more than 70 houses were razed following a confrontation among youths who were collecting tolls from illegal oil bunkerers in the community. A NAN correspondent who visited the area on Sunday reports that some victims were seen standing helplessly in their buildings, destroyed beyond repair.

Speaking on the incident, the traditional ruler of Aborsi-Izombe, Eze Pius Muforo, said that government should thoroughly investigate the main cause of the incident. “I gathered that one youth and two security operatives were killed.

“It was very condemnable that human lives were lost in the incident and I sincerely sympathize with the families of the deceased,’’ he said. According to him, contrary to reports, his house was spared, but his subjects’ houses were badly affected.

The traditional ruler lamented that more than 70 houses, 15 vehicles and 25 motorcycles were razed just as crops were destroyed. “This community has been a peaceful community. We don’t deserve the punishment meted to us. The victims never took part in illegal oil bunkering business,’’ the traditional ruler said.

He also expressed concern over increasing illegal oil bunkering in the area and urged government to find urgent ways of stopping the activity. He also appealed to government to find ways to meaningfully engage the teeming youths in the area to deter them from the nefarious activity.

A victim, Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Onyeukwu, who described the incident as a “tragedy’’ and a “big loss’’, said the community had never experienced such attack.

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“It was like a war situation. They came here with about 30 Toyota Hilux vans and three war tanks. I hid myself in the bush watching from a distance how they destroyed our buildings.

“We lost everything, including clothes, phones, electrical appliances and money.

“My cousin lost more than N500,000 cash, while his wife also lost some money belonging to a church group to which she belongs.

“I am not part of the illegal bunkering business going on in the area, but I am surprised that the problem caused by few individuals affected me and virtually everyone in the village,’’ he said.

Onyeukwu urged Governor Hope Uzodimma to visit the area to ascertain the level of damage caused and assist the victims.

Another victim, Mr. Victus Nwadikwa, a retired driver who worked at the Court of Appeal, said he and his brothers lost three cars and two buildings to the attack.

“On Friday morning, I left my home to Mbaise, I later received calls that there was trouble at Izombe and I should not return home.

“I returned on Saturday to discover that three cars in my compound had been burnt; my house and that of my brother have been burnt as well.

“We couldn’t save anything from the houses. Now, all my sweat over the years have been turned to rubles,” he lamented.

Nwadikwa, who said that since retirement, he had relied on his pension and sales from his farm produce, also appealed to the government to assist victims.

“I know that a youth and two security operatives were killed, but the security operatives overreacted,” he added.

When contacted, Capt. Joseph Akubo, Army Public Relations Officer at 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze, near Owerri, declined comments.

Also contacted, the spokesman of the Nigeria Police Command in Imo, CSP Mike Abattam, merely directed NAN to the Army Public Relations Office.

“My advice is that you meet the military Public Relations Officer. He will give you more information about that,’’ Abattam said.

(NAN)