Imo Community Counts Huge Losses After Security Operatives Raid Bunkers

Posted by admin Headlines, Imo, State News Monday, October 11th, 2021

Victims of Friday’s raid by security operatives on illegal oil bunkers’ at Izombe community in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo have condemned the attack as “unwarranted’’.

Reacting to the incident , some residents in separate interviews, said 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 illegal oil bunkerers in the community.

Speaking on the incident, the traditional ruler of Aborsi-Izombe, Eze Pius Muforo, said government should thoroughly investigate the main cause of the incident.

The traditional ruler lamented that more than 70 houses, 15 vehicles and 25 motorcycles were razed just as crops were destroyed.

“I gathered that one youth and two security operatives were killed.

“It was very condemnable that human lives were lost in the incident and I sincerely sympathise with the families of the deceased,’’ he said.

According to him, contrary to reports, his house was spared, but his subjects’ houses were badly affected.

“This community has been a peaceful community. We don’t deserve the punishment meted to us. The victims never took part in illegal oil bunkering business,’’ the traditional ruler said.

He also expressed concern over increasing illegal oil bunkering in the area and urged government to find urgent ways of stopping the activity in the area.

He also appealed to government to find ways to meaningfully engage the teeming youths in the area to deter them from the nefarious activity.

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.wp_posts