By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Some residents of Rundele community in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State are fleeing their villages on Sunday following cordon and search operation declared by the Nigerian Army to search for stolen military uniforms and rifles in the area.
Some reports indicated that troops stormed the community over the shooting of two soldiers and carting away of their riffles on Saturday, April 15, 2023 by members of a local vigilante operatives in the area.
It was learnt that the soldiers who were deployed to guard crude oil pipelines in the areas had an altercation with some vigilante personnel which resulted in a shooting incident.
Our source alleged that the members of the vigilante group who shot the Soldiers also carted away their guns and uniforms.
The source further disclosed that many residents began fleeing from the community as soon as information of what transpired between the vigilante operatives and the soldiers got to them.
A resident of the community who spoke under condition of anonymity claimed that the soldiers were shot, they did not die, but sustained gunshot injuries.
He said many natives have ran into the bush as at Sunday afternoon looking for a way to go out from the community at sight of soldiers.
When contacted on the issue by our reporter, Emenika Nwakama representing Rundele, Emohua local government area, ward 7 said he was in a meeting and could not speak.
However, when contacted, His Royal Highness, HRH Damian Ejiowhor, Onyeweli Rundele confirmed that there is tension in the community.
The traditional ruler, in a telephone interview, said that he was told that some soldiers and ROSPAC (vigilante) commander had confrontation yesterday (Saturday) and that the soldiers came to the community to recover their seized rifles and army uniforms.
The traditional ruler, however, did not give further details on the matter.
The Acting Spokesperson for 6 Division Nigeria Army,Port Harcourt, Iweha Ikedichi was yet to respond to text messages sent to him by our reporter as at the time of writing this story.
