Troops torched at least three communities in Abia state after three soldiers died in a clash with civilians at an illegal oil bunkering site in the forests.
Owaza, Obehie and Uzuaku are the communities razed by soldiers in separate attacks which began on Monday, January 17, 2022.
Uziamaka Ugah, a resident who spoke to OAK METRO revealed that the three soldiers were killed in the clash with soldiers who demanded a bribe from the operators of the illegal bunkering company in forest.
“We don’t know why they didn’t settle amicable as the have been doing,” Ugah said.
An eyewitness said at least five civilians were killed by soldiers during the raids. “They arrested many innocent people here in my community and burned down houses,” said the eyewitness.
Meanwhile, a military source who confirmed the report alleged that the soldiers were killed while trying to dislodge the illegal bunker operators.
“We lost three soldiers,” he said, but declined to comment on the razed communities.