By Ebi Perekeme
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnC6xdrvW4Y
Contents
- By Ebi Perekeme
- Bilabiri community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa state has been deserted following an alleged military invasion.
- According to investigations, the people of the community fled on Friday after troops allegedly invaded the community in search of some suspects.
- Sources said the suspects were fingered in the killing of some military personnel in December 2019.
- Community sources said the troops that came in 16 gunboats were searching for the suspects; they razed down houses and destroyed property forcing many of the indigenes to flee into the forest to escape arrest.
- ALSO READ: (BREAKING) Army allegedly invades Bayelsa community, razing houses
- The chairman of Bilabiri community, Mr. Esau Darosha, in a Save-our-Soul message sent to journalists, called on government to intervene and prevail on the military to stop further destruction of the community and displacement of the indigenes.
- Confirming the invasion, the paramount ruler of Bilabiri communities, HRM King Paul Seide, in an interview said he had to hide in the forest during the invasion.
- His words: “We were all in my palace this morning when some of my subjects ran to inform me about the military presence and asked me to run but I told them that I could not leave my palace, but they pressurised me to run that they were over 16 military gunboats at the waterside.
- “As soon as I left my palace, they came and burnt down my palace to ashes and that of my younger brother. They did not arrest anybody or leave any message. I have returned to my community to meet my palace burnt to ashes.”
