No fewer than three persons were feared dead on Friday as soldiers raided Izombe community in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) also gathered that many houses, including the palace of the traditional ruler of the Aborshi-Izombe community, Pius Muforo, were burnt down.
Although the exact cause of the raid is still sketchy at the time of filing this report, NAN gathered that Izombe, Eziorsu and Osobod communities have been enmeshed in oil bunkering operations.
Speaking on the development, a community leader from Umuokwu village, Mr James Imo, claimed that over 50 houses have been burnt down.
“I was informed that two military men were killed and their vehicle set ablaze after the two military personnel had killed one young man, Chukwunonso Iherue, in Umuokwu-Izombe.
“The problem arose from misunderstanding between the youth and soldiers over crude oil bunkering activities,” Imo said.
He alleged that the angry youth fought back, overpowering the soldiers and as well took their guns and burnt their vehicle.
Imo said the military personnel ran to the palace of the traditional ruler for refuge, but the angry youth stormed the palace, brought them out and killed them.
However, NAN gathered that the traditional ruler’s palace and many other buildings at Umuokwu village in Izombe were allegedly burnt down in the crisis.
Also, it was gathered that the incident led to a reinforcement of soldiers, who raided the area.
Another source, who pleaded anonymity, said: “I am calling from inside a hideout in the bush now.
“Some soldiers attacked our community in retaliation over 18 Hilux vans carrying petrol and three war tanks.
“My cousin living next to our compound told me that her house was burnt down after which the soldiers went and burnt down Chief C.A. Onyeukwu’s building,” the source said.
Efforts to get a confirmation of the incident from the Public Relations Officers of the Police and Nigeria Army proved abortive as they both declined comments on the incident.
But the villager should have report the is ident to Military authority, before taken the law on their hand. and l don’t see the reason why they will just the Soldiers.
But the Youth should have reported the matter to Military authority, before taken the law into their hands. and l don’t see the reason why they killed the Soldiers, Since the soldiers run to the Kings palace.
What do you expect? After killing two soldiers on your soil. The best thing is to report the matter to the Police or better still o their traditional ruler and watch justice being served. The army will investigate and bring the soldiers to face the law. But instead the youth burn the military vehicles and killed two soldiers. Things are not done that way. And I am sure most of the youth don’t have good relationship with the person killed.
Bunkery is not legitimate and not supported by law of our land, but it was discovered that some youth of this country has taken it as business and quick source of wealth.
However, checking of any illegal activities within the country is one the responsibility of the security agencies but they always been attacked while cubbing bunkery activities. For those that lost their lives RIP. The traditional rulers and religion leaders have to educate the youth about the dangers of bunkery and attacks on the security agencies.
things are not done this way, we are shouting Boko haram everywhere what is the difference between u people and Bokoharam dem, the king should have used his initiative to call the nearest police station to control the situation then the police will hand over the soldiers to their people in the barrack for further investigation. na wa o which kind that one be self way him people cant even listen to him.this one choke me ooo
This is indeed a sad incident. It is extremely bad for anyone to kill a military personnel. We must think twice before we act as there is always reaction to every action according to Newton’s Law of Motion.
Those youth don’t even have respect for their traditional ruler in the first place, because if they do they would have entered the king palace and forced those soldiers out, insisted they went ahead and killed the soldiers. Do they think that soldiers colleague will not come for them?
May God Almighty help us ooo, i neva see where king can’t control his people or his people will not listen to him and the king can’t even say let me inform the police oo den the police will no what to do next, this man is not even fit to be king at the first place, he is just their like status, so now even his palace cant even safe anyone. he should cover his face ooooo and You can’t eat your cake and have it, u people think those soldiers will just fold their hands while you just killed their people just like that they must come back to attack u people.
When you kill the son of a strong man what do you expect? We all know that bunkering is an illegal business and I am sure before the soldiers killed that guy, he might have made some obscene utterances and threatened to do some crazy things. Soldiers no be like Police wey de kill anyhow na
RIP to the youth and soldier who lost their life. Burkery is very bad pls my people let desist from it, just imagine some one sons and father had lost their life bcus of these. May the Almighty continue to guide and protect us in this country
what a tragedy may God grant the bereaved the strength to bear these lost.
taking law into our own hands is never a solution to a problem jungle justice is never right rather it escalate or worsen situation, matter like this require us as a community to report to the appropriate authority not to kill people on uniform, the military or Army will still investigate cause that’s the sane or right thing to do getting to the bottom of the problem.
I pray we learn from this not to always take law into our own hands.