Soldiers attached to the Joint Task Force, JTF, have raided Egbemene community, opposite Macver Market, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State in alleged pursuit of suspected female crude oil bunkerers.
The suspects, who were conveying diesel in a boat to Warri, ran into the community and fled in a desperate attempt to escape from the soldiers, who were chasing them, according to reports, abandoning the boat on the riverbank, while the soldiers ransacked homes in search of them.
In a frantic effort to nab the bunkerers, a community source said that the military men harassed villagers, including Chief Perebina-bin Ebiton and a married woman, Mrs. Akren Yodiowei.
“As I speak to you, the whereabouts of four kids are not known,” the community source told Vanguard.
“One of the victims was asked by the soldiers to roll and destroy the drums of diesel and he refused, which led to beating and maltreatment.
“There was pandemonium as residents were alarmed by the brutalisation, while some persons were asked to str*p n*ked,” the source said.
