Fighting between the Nigerian military and armed gangs in the creeks of the oil-producing Niger Delta has killed several civilians and displaced dozens more, residents said on Friday.
A military taskforce (JTF) comprising the army, navy and air force began raiding three camps believed to belong to a notorious gang leader in Delta state on Thursday, close to the Ayakoromo and Okrika communities.
Witnesses said fighters loyal to gang leader John Togo hid in buildings in Ayakoromo to escape the raids before engaging in a gun battle with the security forces. Some civilians were wounded as they fled in dug-out canoes and several were killed.
“The community reports nine (dead). They have buried seven and they have two in the morgue,” Niabiye Kuromiema, president of the Ijaw Youth Council civil rights group, told Reuters after touring Ayakoromo and interviewing villagers.
“In terms of the damage to property, we counted a little bit over 30 houses were affected by the raid,” he said.
Source: Reuters Africa – www.reuters.com
I just pity the innocent civilians that were affected.
God should forgive those that died thier sins but put heavy punishment on thier killers