Magnus Abe Instigates Army Return To Ogoni Again
…As 17 Persons Confirmed Killed In Yeghe
The residents of Yeghe Community in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State and other communities in Khana and Tai Local Government Areas respectively who fled their homes for safety following the killing of over 17 innocent persons by men of the Nigerian Army led by Captain Mustapha, drafted to the area by Magnus Abe and Barry Mpigi and were back home based on assurances given to them by the Governor, Barr Nyesom Wike, when he visited the area have again fled their communities following rumour that the Nigerian military was coming to the area for mass arrest.
Recall that last week troops of fully armed soldiers had invaded Yeghe community and shut and killed over 17 persons while combing for the ex-Niger Delta agitator, Chief Solomon Ndigbara on the orders of Magnus Abe and Barry Mpigi.
Following the rumour on Sunday, life in the community was lonesome as some residents were seen going out from the community. Some other residents who do not have where to travel to said they would hang around to see the actions of the military.
Speaking to newsmen, the Paramount ruler of Bua Yeghe, HRH. Chief Barinada Barine disclosed that there is heavy tension in the community over the news of re-invasion of the area by the military for mass arrest.
Barine who spoke, Sunday, February 28, 2016, when a delegation of Chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Rivers South East Senatorial District led by the Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Kenneth Kobani visited the community to donate some food items to the community said the community has been thrown into tension.
The monarch pleaded with the local, state and federal governments, and other well meaning individuals to intervene, adding that the community would be sacked if nothing was done.
“We heard that army are coming to Yeghe again for mass arrest tomorrow, Monday March 29, 2016 or any other day not known to us. As I am talking now, there is already four vans loaded with soldiers in Bori.”
“We don’t know what their mission is again in this place. We are afraid. If not that today is Sunday you wouldn’t have seen anybody around.
“I want to plead with army authority and the government to help us remove the army because we not fighting war here.”
He also thanked the State Governor, Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike and Chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Rivers South East Senatorial District for remembering the people in their time of sorrow and trouble, adding that the people need peace.
Meanwhile, the army have been provided accommodation, by Magnus Abe at the defunct Social Democratic Party, SDP secretariat along Bori Road, opposite Bori Police Station.
Magnus Abe, Barry Mpigi Maurice Poronem and other APC Chieftains in Ogoni, were seen with the army in the area on Sunday.
It would be recalled that in 1995 during the military invasion of Ogoni and killing of prominent Ogoni leaders, including Ken Saro-Wiwa, Magnus Abe and Barry Mpigi were also at the centre of the controversy