Panic as military deploys helicopters in N’Delta

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- Oporoza was thrown into panic when they saw two military helicopters hovering round the community

- Residents said the aircraft was first sighted at 10am and flown for about 30 minutes before leaving the community

- The residents were said to have panicked and flee into the swampy neighbouring bush for cover

Residents of Oporoza in the Warri south west local government area of Delta state, were on Tuesday, November 7, thrown into panic when they saw two military helicopters hovering round the community.

Residents said the aircraft was first sighted at 10am and flown for about 30 minutes before leaving the community.

The aircraft returned for the second time at noon, causing fear among residents who thought soldiers were coming to invade the community.

The residents were said to have panicked and flee into the swampy neighbouring bush for cover.

Punch also reported that investigation showed that the Nigerian military deployed soldiers in the creeks of Gbaramatu and the Escravos River, including Burutu, to check the activities of militants and to prevent their planned attack on oil and gas facilities.

A military source was said to have confirmed the incident.

Spokesman for the Gbaramatu Traditional Council, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, also confirmed the incident, appealing to the federal government not to turn Gbaramatu Kingdom into a theatre of war.

He said: “Military helicopters have been hovering round our communities in Gbaramatu kingdom since morning (Tuesday).

“Gbaramatu people are not at war with the Federal Government. Why is it that anytime there is crisis in Bayelsa or Rivers states, the first port of call is Gbaramatu? We are just one of the many communities in the Niger Delta. We don’t deserve this siege. We have been championing peace since 2009, but every time military men are drafted to Gbaramatu.

“While we appeal to the Niger Delta Avengers to sheathe their swords, we don’t know the rationale behind the deployment of troops and gun boats to Gbaramatu creeks. We don’t want what happened in 2009 and 2016 to happen again. So, let the military restrain their men from our villages. We don’t harbour militants. Avengers are not resident in Gbaramatu Kingdom.”

Efforts to speak with Col. Alhassan Grema, the Sector 1 Commander, Joint Task Force, codenamed Operation Delta Safe were not successful.

But in his reaction, Commodore Ibrahim Dewu, the Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS, Delta, Commodore said the helicopters were on routine patrol.

“What they are speculating as military deployment is routine patrol along the Escravos and the Trans Forcados Pipeline. Once we sense any security concern on that line, our men usually move in to patrol the area. Nobody is deploying any gunboat or jets to specific communities. It is a normal patrol,” he said.

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Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had reported that the Nigerian federal government had been warned by Chief Godspower Gbenekama, the traditional prime minister of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri Southwest local government area, not to take the threat of renewed hostilities by the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) lightly.

According to reports, Gbenekama issued the warning in Warri, Delta state, during a chat with journalists.

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