Tension In Delta As Soldiers Lay Siege

Agency ReporterJuly 20, 2018

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There is serious tension in Delta State as men of the joint military task-force under the leadership of Rear Admiral Suleiman Apochi, in the early hours of Friday laid siege on Oporoza, the headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta state.

The soldiers arrived the community with two gunboats with the inscription P376.

The gunboats were stationed at the Jetty in Oporoza where they allegedly harassed and intimidated indigenes of the community.

The soldiers reportedly towed the speedboats belonging to indigenes to undisclosed locations.

The Fiyewei (spokesman) of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, confirmed the report in a statement signed and made available to DAILY POST in Warri.

He cried out over the purported harassment as well as intimidation of indigenes of the community by security operatives who are alleged to be men of the joint military task-force.

Gbenekama called on the JTF Commander, Rear Admiral Suleiman Apochi to immediately call his men to order.

According to him,”The JTF team stormed Oporoza, the headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom, early of hour of today and started intimidating community members who were asked to raise their hands in the air.”

Gbenekama wondered why the mobilisation of armed security men to the traditional headquarters when the kingdom was not at war.

He noted that the kingdom has been very peaceful especially with the kickoff of the Nigerian Maritime University at Okerenkoko.

“It was just last week that the JTF Commander and all sectional commanders paid a courtesy call to the Palace of the Pere of Gbaramatu, HRM. Oboro Gbaraun, we had a fruitful meeting with all sides vowing to keep the peace in the area. I wonder why two gunboats (with the inscription P376) are now stationed in Oporoza Jetty to intimidate our people,” the community spokesman said.

He appealed to the leadership of the JTF, Rear Admiral Apochi, to urgently wade into the matter to save community members who are yet to get over the bombardment of the kingdom from psychological trauma.

Gbenekama also called on the acting governor of Delta state, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro to prevail on the JTF to leave the kingdom in peace, insisting that nothing has happened in Gbaramatu kingdom to warrant the siege on its people.