Three persons were reportedly killed on Friday during soldiers’ raid of Izombe community in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State.
Izombe, Eziorsu and Osobod communities have been enmeshed in oil bunkering operations.
A community leader in Umuokwu village, James Imo to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that over 50 houses were razed.
“I was informed that two military men were killed and their vehicle set ablaze after they killed one young man, Chukwunonso Iherue, in Umuokwu-Izombe.”
Imo disclosed that trouble started after a disagreement between youths in Izombe and soldiers over bunkering.
The citizen alleged that the youth overpowered the personnel, took their guns and burnt their vehicle.
Imo said the soldiers ran to the palace of the traditional ruler, but the youth brought them out and killed them. The situation led to reinforcement.
“Some soldiers attacked our community in retaliation over 18 Hilux vans carrying petrol and three war tanks”, a source told NAN.
“My cousin living next to our compound told me that her house was burnt down after which the soldiers went and burnt down Chief C. A. Onyeukwu’s building.”