According to report reaching OYOGost.com, a Rivers state based landlord in the Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State, who identified himself only as Mr. Emmanuel, has claimed that over 20 persons were killed by soldiers deployed to restore normalcy in the area after suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra attacked three police station.
In the attack, Stanley Mgberem led Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) disguising as EndSARS protesters to kill about five soldiers, three Policemen violently over the weekend.
IPOB members were alleged to have killed three Police Officers, cut off a hand of one of the dead officers who earlier attempted shooting.
Also, Police Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) driver was killed and one other officer was burnt alive, while the third one was reportedly stoned till he gave up the ghost.
Among properties burnt were 15 Police vehicles, a hospital, and an Appeal Court complex located in Oyigbo.
He said, “ A pregnant woman died of shock after continuous gunshots. The woman fainted and there was no way to take her to hospital. Some other persons were also hit by stray bullets and died at home because hospitals were closed”.
Mr. Emmanuel said that many innocent souls that have lost their lives in Oyigbo. More than 20 persons have been killed. Many people are crying looking for their loved ones.
He furthers that In Iriebe where his in- law lives, the army marched from house-to-house breaking into houses looking for stolen guns.
He said that If they enter your house and discover two or three boys inside, they would beat them up and tie them up saying they are IPOB members. They ( soldiers ) even killed some of them.
The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, had on October 21, 2020, imposed a 24 – hour curfew and deployed soldiers and other security agents to enforce it.
This 24 hours curfew has been relaxed by The State Security Council on Wednesday in Oyigbo as life was gradually returning to normal.
The spokesman for the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Major Charles Ekeocha, said the claims against the Army were false, saying its operation in Oyigbo was professional and targeted only at criminals who killed security operatives and stole their rifles.
