Residents of Bodo Community in Gokana Local Government area of Rivers State has called on both the federal and state governments to withdraw heavy military presence at the community.
NatureNews reports that Bodo Community is one of the communities in the Niger Delta affected by oil spills.
No fewer than four oil spills occurred in different parts of Bodo community in August 2022, leading to the destruction of the environment and all the spills occurred along the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) operated by oil giant, Shell.
The residents lamented the continuous presence of the community since two months ago, which has been leading to chaos, deaths and loss of properties.
Speaking to the general coordinator of Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) in Ogoni, Celestine Viula on Wednesday, he decried “the incessant of Bodo City by military and paramilitary personnel.”
According to him, “Women have been bruised and raped. Most annoying of them was the killing of a married pregnant woman. These soldiers invade Bodo, break and enter our homes with several arrest of our people.
“This morning about 4.00 am, same military armed personnel had invaded Bodo City with armoured tank in the community Regent compound.
“I ask both federal and state government whose basic responsibility is to protect us instead of wiping out Bodo City to withdraw the presence of the military.
“We have not committed any crime. Hear from us than dwelling on fictitious story for barbaric actions.
“Bodo City is zero cultism tolerant and devoid of internal or external communal crises but why do we have such incessant invasions?
“We are calling on government at all levels to withdraw their military from Bodo City. We don’t want the same situation of the Ogoni massacre in 1994 by federal government and Shell to occur again.”
Mr Viula also added that “the military invasion became more consistent after Mr. John Viaa Berebon was dethroned from being king, adding that the community had about 5 points oil spill which S.P.D.C alleged that sabotage was the reason for the oil spills but after their confirm investigation, they said it was equipment failures.
“But after the investigation, we have not seen any compensation.
“We therefore, call on government, national and international human activists to come to our aid.”