On Saturday, May 28, 2016, Nigerian soldiers invaded Oporoza, the traditional headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Delta State in what community leaders described as a brutal raid that included a range of human rights abuses.
The soldiers stormed the village in a midnight raid presumably in search of members of the new militant group operating in the oil-rich Niger Delta region of Southern Nigeria. They arrived in gunboats around 2.00 am, community leaders told The Trent on the day of the raid.
“They were asking the helpless villagers to produce former militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, and members of the Niger Delta Avengers,” a youth leader told journalists.
An 80-year-old man was beaten with the butt of a gun and there were reports of gang rapes and widespread looting.
A new video been published by Sahara Reporters in which victims and eye-witnesses of the Nigerian army brutality in Oporoza, spoke on camera recounting their horrific ordeal at the hands of the soldiers. The 80-year-old community leader, Chief Atiti Mala told his story in the video.
So heartbreaking is the story of a woman, Timi, whose identity was protected. She said that three soldiers broke into her room as she slept and proceeded to rape her in turns.
Gbaramatu Kingdom in the hometown of former Niger Delta warlord and commander of defunct militant group, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, Chief Government Ekpemupolo also known as Tompolo.
Tompolo had condemned the brutal invasion of his home community by the Nigerian army and asked President Muhammadu Buhari to withdraw the soldiers. The Niger Delta Avengers had noted with sadness the rapes of girls in Gbaramatu by Nigerians soldiers and promised revenge.
In case you are wondering if the Avengers were arrested by the troops in the raid, NO! After terrorising innocent citizens and raping girls, the Nigerian troops left without finding any member of the Niger Delta Avengers.
You may watch the heartbreaking video below:
