military intimidation: Delta community protests

People of Enerhen community in Uvwie council area of Delta state on Friday took to the streets, protesting alleged military victimisation of residents of their neighbourhood.

They particularly lamented an attempt on the life of the chairman of their community, Comrade Lucky Emuakpor-Izeku, who narrowly escaped death after an unprovoked encounter with a navy personnel and some soldiers.

Speaking during a peaceful protest to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Warri Correspondents’ Chapel’s Press Center on Friday, the protesters, consisting of women, youths and leadership of the community, narrated how the security personnel, who were keeping guard at two companies in the community made to kill Emuakpor-Izeku for no good reason.

An Elderly Woman, Mrs. Mary Owolo, who spoke on behalf of Enerhen Community claimed that naval and Army personnel on guard duty at Arco-Marine Limited and Python Engineering and Construction Company allegedly shot at the chairman of the Community, Comrade Lucky Emuakpor-Izeku, for daring to challenge Arco-Marine said to be relocating from Warri to Port-Harcourt.

The incident which took place on Thursday afternoon according to Mrs. Owolo, saw  the security personnel shattering the wind shield of a Kia Rio Car of the Community’s Chairman with Reg: TDU 117 EV causing tension within the area. She called on the Delta State Government to prevail on the matter stressing that the community is a peaceful and law abiding community.

Narrating his ordeal in the hands of the navy and army personnel, Emuakpor-Izeku accused them of allegedly harassing, intimidating and attacking him when he approached management of Arco-Marine Limited for the benefit of its indigenes under its employ as they were relocating to Port Harcourt.

He said youths (workers) from the community had earlier approached the Ako-Marine Limited in a peaceful manner for their pay off and other packages when naval personnel on guard duty allegedly
threatened to deal decisively with them claiming to be under orders of the company.

He also claimed that the naval personnel on guard duty in a bid to carry out instructions of the company, ran to Opposite company, Python Engineering & Construction Company to solicit the support of his soldier colleagues and invaded the community shooting sporadically into the air just as they threatened to kill anyone who dares to challenge them.

In a swift reaction, the Commander Nigerian Army 3 Battalion Effurun, Major Azaku in a telephone conversation with our correspondents in Warri, absolved the Nigerian Army of the alleged invasion of the community, pointing that the naval personnel should be held responsible for whatever that transpired.

“The problem started with the navy. He should be able to point out those that supported him. No Army Officer was on guard duty at Ako-Marine Limited. I can go to any length to fish out those who are involved in the act if they can point the soldiers to me. I told them yesterday.”

The Commander Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Delta, Commodore Raimi Mohammed in his office said, “The Nigerian Navy is investigating the matter”, assuring the community and newsmen of handling the matter in transparent manner.

When contacted to speak on the issue, the Commanding Officer, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta, Warri, Commodore Raimi Mohammed said he is yet to get full report on the matter and that he has already called for the navy personnel in question to come and explain himself.

He said that the Nigerian Navy will not condone any form of indiscipline and any act of lawlessness from its personnel, adding that anybody found culpable at the end of their investigation will be brought to book.

He however, advised the community leadership to always liaise with the Nigerian Navy when they have such issues, noting that what happened between the community and the navy personnel would not have resulted to such extent if they had been working closely with the navy.

Special Assistant to Delta State Governor of Delta State on Youth Development, Hon. Otemu Prince advised indigenes of Enerhen Community to remain calm and peaceful stressing that, “Without a conducive environment there cannot be development.”

Hon. Otemu assured the State Government’s preparedness in finding a lasting solution to the crisis. He also promised to report the matter to the appropriate quarter for urgent attention.