Some victims of weekend’s raid by security operatives on oil bunkerers at Izombe community in Oguta Local Government of Imo State have decried the attack as “unwarranted’’.
They said yesterday in interviews that they incurred great losses in the raid.
Two security operatives and a resident were feared killed in the raid, while more than 70 houses were razed following a squabble between youths who were collecting tolls from oil bunkerers in the community.
Some victims were yesterday seen standing helplessly in their buildings destroyed beyond repair.
Speaking about the incident, the traditional ruler of Aborsi-Izombe, Eze Pius Muforo, said the government should investigate the cause of the incident.
“I gathered that one youth and two security operatives were killed.
“It was very condemnable that human lives were lost in the incident. I sympathise with the bereaved families,’’ he said.
He also expressed concern about increasing oil bunkering in the area and urged the government to find urgent ways of stopping the activity in the area.
He appealed to the government to find ways to meaningfully engage the teeming youths in the area to deter them from the nefarious activity.
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A victim, Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Onyeukwu, who described the incident as a “tragedy’’ and a “big loss’’, said the community had never experienced such attack.
“It was like a war situation. They came here with about 30 Toyota Hilux vans and three war tanks. I hid myself in the bush watching from a distance how they destroyed our buildings.
“We lost everything including clothes, phones, electrical appliances and money.
“My cousin lost more than N500,000 cash, while his wife also lost some money belonging to a church group to which she belongs.
“I am not part of the illegal bunkering business going on in the area, but I am surprised that the problem caused by few individuals affected me and virtually everyone in the village,’’ he said.
Onyeukwu urged Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma to visit the area to ascertain the level of damage caused and assist the victims.
Another victim, Mr. Victus Nwadikwa, a retired driver who worked at the Court of Appeal, said he and his brothers lost three cars and two buildings to the attack.
“On Friday morning, I left my home to Mbaise, I later received calls that there was trouble at Izombe and I should not return home.
“I returned on Saturday to discover that three cars in my compound had been burnt; my house and that of my brother have been burnt as well.
“We couldn’t save anything from the houses. Now, all my sweat over the years have been turned to rubbles,” he lamented.
Nwadikwa, who said since retirement, he relied on his pension and sales from his farm produce, also appealed to the government to assist victims.
“I know that a youth and two security operatives were killed, but the security operatives overreacted,” he added.
Contacted, Capt. Joseph Akubo, Army Public Relations Officer at 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze, near Owerri, declined comments.
Also contacted, the spokesman for the Nigerian Police in Imo, CSP Mike Abattam, directed The Nation to the Army Public Relations Office.
“My advice is that you meet the military Public Relations Officer. He will give you more information about that,’’ Abattam said.
