Ogonis in emotion as victims of army invasion testify at House Army Committee

Tens of Ogoni indigenes including their chiefs poured out ceaseless tears in an infectious emotional outflow at the Rivers State House of Assembly auditorium, when victims of the February military invasion of Ogoni communities testified before the House of Representatives Committee on Army, which came to the state to investigate the heinous incident.

The invasion, which the Army high command in Abuja had denied it deployed the soldiers, led to the death of an estimated 24 innocent persons. Other independent reports said up to 42 persons were mowed down in a hail of bullets that rained in communities in Gokaka and Khana local government areas.

The House of Representatives Committee commenced investigations into the Army killings in Ogoni land on Monday, stating that it was in the state on a “fact finding assignment.”

Chairman of the Committee, Rimamde Shawulu Kwewum, while addressing members of the State House of Assembly, at the Rivers Assembly complex, said the visit became imperative following the weighty nature of the allegations levelled against the Nigerian Army.

He stated that presently, Army was deployed to the 36 states of the federation; adding that the nation’s Army has the obligation to protect the nation from any aggression.

“We are not here to pursue anybody’s agenda. We are here because of the allegation against the Army,” Kwewum said.

In his reply, the Speaker of Rivers House of Assembly, Dabo Adams, charged the committee members to be transparent in their “fact-finding mission” in the state; particularly concerning the Army killing in Ogoniland.

When the testimonies from the Ogoni indigenes began pouring in, it became an emotionally charged period, as the locals freely wept sore before the Reps’ Committee on Army. First to give testimony at the sitting was the Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), represented by its South-South zonal chairman, Karl Chinedu.

He told the Committee that CLO’s petition was based on several reports submitted to the organisation by communities and families of victims affected by the controversial army invasion.

 

When it was the turn of Ogonis to testify, drama ensued at the Rivers House of Assembly auditorium, venue of the sitting, as the families of the victims, who all dressed in black, broke down in tears; wept uncontrollably for several minutes. In-between their tears they called on the government to save them from the Nigerian Army, who are still occupying the communities.

For the traditional ruler of Yeghe Community, which saw grave shootings, Barinaada Gbaranee, the Army invasion has caused unrest in his kingdom, as many people are still living in the bushes for fear of being killed or arrested on trumped-up charges.

Gbaranee said the case of Solomon Ndigbara, whose declaration of being wanted by the Army, led to the invasion, had been a peaceful citizen of Yeghe community.

He said the exit of the Army from his community would bring peace and happiness among the people. “This should be the first step for peace,” he said.

The traditional ruler maintained that there was no crisis in his community to demand Army invasion and victimisation; stressing that Army lied in their statement that they were attacked while responding to distress calls.

“Over 30 persons died as a result of the Army onslaught in Yeghe and other neighbouring communities,” Gbaranee claimed.

On his part, the counsel to Ndigbara, who is still in hiding, Eugene Odey, said the manner and operations of the Army in Yeghe Community did not conform to the 1999 Constitution; adding that his client was not convicted, and should be protected by the Amnesty programme.

He urged the House of Reps Committee on Army to take note that the right of every citizen of Nigeria must be protected, including that of his client, Solomon Ndigbara, otherwise known as Osama Bin Laden.

Odey stated that the “Army should be withdrawn from Yeghe community, and the property of my client should be restored. The manner of operation by the soldiers is what we are questioning.”

He stated that his client, Ndigbara had embraced the 2009 Federal Government Amnesty offer to ex-militants; adding that if his (Ndigbara) safety would be guaranteed he would appear publicly to defend himself.

The testimony of the husband of a pregnant woman, who was gruesomely shot dead, and died along with her unborn child, drew more tears from the people including other observers. He said his wife was killed on 22 February. While Sorbarinor Dornubari Nwibani, a 27-year old widow, said her husband was shot dead by the soldiers: “We only got married less than three years before he was killed and we had our first child, Princess.”  She called on the Committee to carry out thorough investigations on the alleged Army invasion.

Also, Thomas Nwafor from Ebonyi State told the Federal lawmakers that he lost his two younger brothers, Chinedu and Kelechi Nwafor, as well as two others, who all died on the spot.

Israel Iganali, 25, told the Committee that his elder sister’s husband, Kenneth, was shot dead at No. 1 Taabaa Road, Bori in Gokana Local Government Area. “I witnessed everything that happened,” he narrated.

The Paramount Ruler of Zaakpon Community, Adamgbo Sampson said a person was shot dead and three sustained bullet wounds; stressing that “the Federal Government must first provide shelter for the victims and pay them adequate financial compensation.”

Earlier, Governor Nyesom Wike in an audience he granted to members of the House of Representatives Committee on Army, said, after the rerun elections, the sponsored propaganda  reports no longer dominate the media because  there are no political killings in the state.

“Like every other state, we have our security challenges, but we don’t have political killings.  We have cases of cult related violence, but the security agencies are tackling the issue frontally, with the support of the Rivers State Government,” Wike said.