Reports reaching Emerald News indicate that Oton community Sapele is getting deserted following invasion of the community by soldiers over killing of solder and policeman in the area.
By Valerie Oyibo-Itie
Residents of Oton Community in Sapele Local Government Area, on Tuesday took to their heels for fear of brutality from the Nigerian military that besieged the community.
Sequel to the killing of a military personel and a police officer over the weekend by unknown gunmen, soldiers were seen trooping into Sapele town and headed to Oton community.
Yesterday night, the community was sealed up by the military and nobody was allowed to come in or go out, to the extent that residents had to make use of an old route that had long been abandoned to escape in their numbers from the community.
It was gathered that the gunmen may have probably come for a kidnapping operation and deemed it fit to dislodge the army checkpoint at Oton before carrying out their operation but the strong resistance from security personnel forced them back, after killing the military personnel and a police officer.
It was also gathered that the Oton Youth Chairman, as well as the vigilante chairman of the community had been apprehended and were undergoing interrogation, as it was also alleged that during the period of the attack, they did not mobilize youths and vigilantes to assist the security personnel at the checkpoint.
As at the time of filing this report, Oton community was still under seized, and residents remained indoor while many were fleeing with their valuables using the alternative route.
