6 killed, 16 injured as Navy, militants clash in Ondo

Posted by admin Headlines, Ondo, State News Sunday, July 29th, 2012

Photo:

Sun News Publishing

By:

TUNDE RAHEEM, Akure

Date:

Sun, 07/29/2012 – 23:22

Igbokoda, the headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area was on edge yesterday as naval officers attached to Igbokoda Forward Operational Base and some youths suspected to be militants engaged one another in a gun duel.

At the end of the clash, no fewer than six people were killed, while 16 others were injured. An eyewitness said trouble started when the youths went to the naval base where Mr. Raphael Nomiye, a House of Representatives member, representing Ese-Odo/ Ilaje Federal Constituency kept some empowerment materials with the intention of looting them.

It was gathered that the naval officers, denial of entry to the militants led to exchange of gunshots from the two sides. Six persons suspected to be militants were feared dead while 16 others sustained various degrees of injury. It was gathered that those who sustained injuries were taken to Okitipupa Specialist Hospital while the remains of the deceased were deposited at the hospital morgue.

However, the death of the six people sparked-off protest by the youth, who in return stormed the Naval base with the corpses of their colleagues to register their anger. Soldiers were later drafted from Okitipupa Army Barracks to put the situation under control As at the time of filing this report many residents of the town had fled to neighbouring towns for the fear of reprisal from both sides.

Efforts to reach Nomiye on the issue proved abortive as all calls put across to his mobile line were not answered.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Adenitan Aremu, DSP, said one person died, adding that security agencies were on the top of the situation. He assured of adequate security for the people of the area.

via Sunwp_posts