By Ayodele Oni
Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark has protested the invasion of his country home by armed military personnel claiming to be in search of some persons linked with recent killing of some soldiers in Delta state.
According to a statement released by the elder statesman, the incident happened last Saturday during which those resident there were subjected to series of maltreatment.
The statement reads: “At about 6pm on Saturday, 23rd March, 2024, I got a telephone call from someone who identified himself as the commanding officer Nigerian Army, Division in Port Harcourt.
“He said that a tracker of the Nigerian Army, had tracked one Mr. Vote, the community chairman of Okuoma Community, whom the Army was looking for in respect of the killings of the 17 men of the Nigerian Army, to a house in Ughelli; and that the military men had broken into the house, ransacked it, before they were informed that the house belongs to me, that he was very sorry and apologising to me on behalf of the Army.
“In my usual way and as a leader who is expected to condone as much as possible, I accepted his apology wholeheartedly, but told him that I do not own a house in Ughelli, that the house he is referring to, could be my father’s.
“It was not long after that, I was inundated with calls from my home, Kiagbodo, telling me how the army had invaded my country home by land and by air.
“That they came in about five trucks loaded with armed soldiers numbering between 30 and 40. They arrived my house, used their legs to break open all the doors in the compound including the security door to my sitting room which was locked because I reside in Abuja.
“At the same time, flying their drone within the premises. Some of them went to the buildings behind the main house, and also broke all the doors that were locked.
“They matched out my staff living in those buildings, including lecturers at the university; made them to sit on bare ground.
“They also broke into my late brother, Ambassador Akporode Blessing Clark’s house; a man who served this country internationally in various capacities, including as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; as both of us share the same premises.
“They brought out his son almost naked, as the young man was taking a bath, when they stormed the house.
“All their phones were seized. The people had to identify themselves, and told them whose house it was, before they asked for my telephone number, which they said they will pass to their “oga”’, before they all departed.
“One would have expected that at this juncture, a call could have been put to the Governor of Delta State, to inform him of what happened.
“I immediately called back the Commanding Officer to tell him of the actions of his men. And he said he was aware, and that was why he called to apologize.
“Having said that, I want to appreciate the enormous responsibility on the shoulders of the Nigerian Army, who are burdened with so much internal security issues.
“And it is for that reason I want to use this medium to kindly appeal to all concerned to work assiduously to unravel what happened and bring the perpetrators to book.
“The earlier this matter is concluded the better, as it will also avail the affected communities which are almost locked down today, without adequate food and water, the chance of returning to normal life.”
