HOURS after some groups of militant
threatened to resume hostilities in the Niger Delta region,
some suspected militants on Monday attacked an army
formation at Opuama community of Warri North Local
Government Area of Delta State leaving one of the soldiers
critically injured.
The incident it was gathered occurred at the Opuma Zion
junction along the Omojo creek of the area and has sent
tension down the spines of locals in the area over fears that
the military would invade their community in a manhunt for
the suspected militant.
Giving details of the incident Wednesday, an operative of
the Department of State Security, DSS, said: “Though
military personnel in the area were able to foil the attack,
unfortunately, one of the soldiers was critically injured after
he was shot by the hoodlums.”
He asserted: “They came out from Omojo creek and were
heading towards Kpogoda at about 1a.m when they were
flagged down by the army personnel at the formation with
torch light for a mandatory stop and search which they
refused to obey, sensing danger, the soldiers fired a
warning shot.
“Though they earlier zoomed off, they (militants) later
returned and engaged the soldiers in a fierce gun battle
with one soldiers sustaining gunshot wounds.”
Confirming the incident, a military source said: “Security
operatives in the area have been able to identify one of the
master minders of the attack as an ex-militant leader who is
trying to establish a militant camp in the area.
Investigations are in top gear and we are doing everything
within the law in ensuring that the culprit and members of
his gang are brought to book.”
Meanwhile, the leadership of Opuama community has
condemned the attack adding that the people of the
community were shocked as a result of the attack.
National leader of Egbema kingdom, Chief Emmanuel
Ebimami, who spoke on the incident, described it as
uncalled for and provocative warning those behind the
attack to steer clear of the kingdom or face dire
consequences.
Shedding light on the incident, he said: “Following the
attack, locals in the community, fled into the bush and are
yet to return over fears of a reprisal attack.
“As a people, we are meeting and would soon come out
with a surveillance team to work in conjunction with
security operatives in the area in manning the waterways.”
