Delta State has been thrown into mourning following the burning of several homes and businesses in the Ughelli North Local Government Area by soldiers who allegedly killed some army officers and troops.
According to eyewitnesses, the soldiers stormed the community on Tuesday night and set ablaze several homes and businesses, leaving many residents injured and displaced.
The attack was said to have been carried out in retaliation for the killing of some army officers and troops by suspected herdsmen in the area.
Sources close to the community revealed that the soldiers had been on patrol when they were ambushed by the herdsmen, leading to a fierce gun battle that left several soldiers dead.
In response, the soldiers reportedly launched a revenge attack on the community, burning down several homes and businesses and killing several people.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as horrific, with homes and businesses reduced to rubble and several bodies littering the streets.
“I was at home when I heard the sound of gunshots and explosions,” one resident told our correspondent. “I rushed outside to see what was happening and saw that the soldiers had set fire to several homes and businesses. It was a very scary moment.”
Another resident, who preferred to remain anonymous, said, “We were all in shock when we saw the soldiers burning down our homes and businesses. We don’t know why they did it, but we are all traumatized.”
The state government has condemned the attack and promised to bring the perpetrators to justice.
“We are deeply saddened by this incident and we condemn it in the strongest possible terms,” Governor Ifeanyi Okowa said in a statement. “We will do everything in our power to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.”
The military has also denied any involvement in the attack, saying that it was carried out by unknown gunmen.
“We are investigating the incident and we will get to the bottom of it,” a military spokesman said. “But we want to assure the public that the army did not carry out the attack.”
The incident has sparked widespread outrage and calls for the government to do more to protect its citizens from such attacks.
“This is a clear case of state failure,” a resident said. “The government needs to do more to protect us from these kinds of attacks.”
The incident has also raised concerns about the security situation in the country, with many calling for greater efforts to address the root causes of the conflict between farmers and herdsmen.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” a security analyst said. “We need to address the underlying issues that lead to these kinds of conflicts before they escalate further.”
Overall, the attack on the Delta community has left many people dead and displaced, and has raised serious questions about the ability of the government to protect its citizens from such attacks.