At least six schools and the only health centre in Kokori have been abandoned by teachers, students and medical personnel, following the siege laid to the community by soldiers.
Teachers, health workers, parents and their children were said to have fled for fear of falling into the hands of soldiers combing the community for the armory and associates of Kelvin.
A Vanguard source, yesterday, said that Kokori Girls School, Kokori; Ozegbe Primary School; Anigboro School; Erijere Model School; Samono Primary and Secondary Schools; Samono Primary and Secondary Schools; Suprina Academy and All Saints Modern College/Primary School had all temporarily shut down.
“Kokori Health Centre, the only health institution in our community, has also ceased to function for now, while the Okarhoro-in-council cannot seat also,” the source added.
President-General of the community, Mr. G. S. Avbunu-diogba, who confirmed the development, said: “It is not that government officially ordered the schools to be shut down.
“In a situation where soldiers besieged the community and are shooting, teachers, health workers and parents, have fled with their children.
“We are appealing to the state and Federal governments to come to our aid, so that schools will resume and the health institution reopened.”
He said the few villagers, who remained in the community, do not allow their kids to go out for fear of the unknown.
He alleged that soldiers were breaking into people’s houses even when Kelvin had been arrested and still asking of Kelvin and this was disturbing to the people, as they were being intimidated for what they knew nothing about.
However, a military officer, told Vanguard: “Soldiers are on internal operation in Kokori and they are mindful of the instruction that they were given to be civil with the residents.
“Their mandate is to fish out criminals in the area and they have not exceeded that.”
Kokori is the home of arrested alleged kidnap kingpin, Kelvin Oniarah, in Ethiope-East Local Government Area, Delta State.
