Alleged Igbomotoru massacre: Niger Delta ex-agitator, Amagbein, urges CDS Olufemi to reopen investigations, bring perpetrators to book

Niger Delta ex-agitator, Mr Endurance Amagbein, has urged the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, to order fresh investigations into the 2024 siege on Igbomotoru Community in Southern Ijaw, Bayelsa State, where about 80 people were allegedly massacred by military personnel.

Amagbein, the self-styled General, in a statement issued to journalists on Monday in Abuja, prayed the CDS to conduct the probe in the interest of fair hearing to the victims’ families.

The ex-militant, popularly known as Adaka Boro the Second, stated that while the rest of the world seemed to have moved on, the families of the alleged 80 innocent souls killed by the military officers are still mourning the death of their loved ones.

He described the incident as an unwarranted and unprovoked attack on innocent citizens, mostly youths, who were full of life.

He stressed the need for the perpetrators to be answerable to the crimes so that the bereaved families can have succour from the wounds inflicted upon them by the culprits.

“Almost two years have elapsed since the Igbomotoru’s invasion, yet, no single person has been charged to court.

“How quick was the investigation prompting the invasion of Igbomotoru on the 17th March, 2024 just three days after the 14th March, 2024 Okuama incident?

“It is sad that the military continues to occupy Igbomotoru Community even though all the military personnel have been withdrawn from Okuama since about a year ago, and we don’t know what is responsible for this siege,” he said

Amagbein alleged that some surveillance contractors, who connived with some military echelon to gain award of surveillance contracts in 2024, continue to bear false allegations against his efforts.

“While the dastardly incident has happened, and we cannot turn back the hands of time, we can only sympathise with the families of the victims and pray for the right thing to be done, and we call on President Bola Tinubu to be a father to the families of the 80 persons killed by the Nigerian military in Igbomotoru on the March 17, 2024 raid,” he said.

According to him, even though we all mobilised our teaming supporters for the APC presidential bid in 2023, only a few gained recognition.

“We also call for adequate compensation for the killings and the destructions wrought upon the community by the military during the raid.”

“Indigenes of Igbomotoru are still worried because surveillance contractors continue to use the Okuama incident as pretext to militarise the community (Igbomotoru) and oppress innocent people to gain cheap political and territorial control.

“So, we seize this opportunity to call on the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, and the Director-General of the Department of Secret Service (DG-DSS), Mr. Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, to re-open investigation into the Okuama incident.

“We know that the CDS is a man of goodwill, he stands for justice and fairness, and we’re seeing the armed forces take a new shape under his command, and we know that he will listen to the cry of Igbomotoru people for justice to be served on those responsible for the senseless killings.

“We want him to use his good office to handle the matter, so that those falsely accused can go about their normal lives, and we want the final outcome of the investigations to be made public.

“We also wish to bring to the notice of the Chief of Defence Staff that many innocent persons are still languishing in various illegal detention centres for what they knew nothing about – without trace till date – and their families have no clue whether they are dead or alive after being captured by enemies of the state operating under the guise of pipeline surveillance workers.

“These people are citizens of Nigeria, and they have right to fair hearing, and that’s why we want the CDS to be a father to all and reunite these people with their families,” Amagbein said.