From Ameachi Prosper (The New Diplomat’s Delta State Correspondent)
There is palpable fear in the agrarian community of Otonyesere in Sapele LGA following the alleged invasion of the community by military who are currently hunting for the killers of a military officer last Sunday.
Fierce looking military and Police officers have allegedly laid siege on the community, which has now been deserted following the attack on a military post on Sunday by gunmen who killed a soldier and a policeman during the attack.
The New Diplomat gathered that officers and men of the Joint Task Force, JTF, have invaded Otonyasere community in Sapele since sunday night allegedly in search of guns reportedly carted away by unidentified gunmen, who killed a policeman and a soldier.
The community has been coded off by men of JTF and resident were not allowed to go out of the community Monday. Also, school children were not allowed to attend school as many remained indoors for fear of been arrested or beaten.
It was further learnt that men of the 19th battalion, Koko, Delta State, who carried out the joint operation invaded the community in search of the guns said to have been carted away by the gunmen during the shootout.
“We have all vacated our houses and as I speak to you we are in the bush and soldiers have completely taken over our homes. The soldiers including police are going from gate to gate picking up young men, and as I speak to you, the vigilantes have been invited too by the security men, community folks, young and old, have fled into the forest for safety.”
“We can’t go into the community and you can’t come out, some of us who came to town has not been able to see our family, we are under siege.
He said gunmen attacked the community at about 6pm Sunday saying, “you know that place is surrounded by creeks, so they came through the Oton creek, as if they were fishermen or timber men, normally that creek was always use to ferry in wood, and other things and there was only one soldier at the checkpoint and before he knew what was happening, they opened fire on him and the other policeman who was inside the hut, dashed out when he heard the sound of gun shots, was shot too.”
The source added that the gunmen also carted away their weapons as the soldiers who were guarding an hotel nearby were attacked by the gunshots. He said they came firing at them before escaping through the creek.
The source stated further that when military men went after the gunmen, the boat used for the operation was found abandoned in the creek, with the weapons missing.
“I think that might have fueled the believe that the gunmen might be around the community with the weapons.”
