50 Injured, Several Missing As Soldiers Raid Village

No fewer than fifty persons reports say were wounded yesterday, when soldiers invaded Ebeberegbene community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State in search of gunmen who abducted two expatriates working for Setraco Construction Company at Gbaregolor community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state since November 25.

According to reports from the area, the soldiers, acting on intelligence stormed the riverine community at about 6.20 am with gunboats, shooting sporadically into the air, as they laid siege and broke into houses.

A community source disclosed that about six persons, namely, Mrs. Sabina Otomene, Freetown French, Nigeria Joseph, Tamarapahgha Tony, Andie Ambrose and John, were arrested and taken away, while an undisclosed number of persons went missing.

Vanguard reports that while the operation lasted, a leader of the community, who spoke from hiding, Mr. Pius Fielei, said the entire community was in disarray, saying the people were not harbouring kidnappers and wondered why soldiers came to harass innocent persons.

“They came with axes with which they broke down doors and were destroying houses. They carted away two 40 horsepower engines, one 75 horsepower engine and looted belongings of people,” Fielei said.