JTF Attacks: 'Please, Save Our Souls'


Communities Petition Presidency, National Assembly

35 People Killed, 77 Houses Burnt

Reps To Investigate
THIRTY-FIVE people were killed, seven villages attacked, 77 houses burnt and property worth millions of Naira was destroyed.
This is the picture the Tombia communities in Rivers State have presented in a petition to the Presidency and the National Assembly on alleged military expedition aimed at flushing out militants in the area.

They requested an investigation into the destruction of their villages and the killing of over 30 persons by the military Joint Task Force (JTF) stationed in the Niger Delta.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives plans to investigate the petition written by the Tombia Council of Chiefs calling for a thorough investigation of the military incursion into Elem-Tombia and other communities on September 13.

The lawmaker representing Degema/Bonny Federal constituency in the House, Dr. Sokonte Davies, told The Guardian that the Rivers State government had commenced a process of trying to ascertain the exact situation of things following conflicting reports on the Joint Task Force in the area.

Davies said: "When petition goes to the House, the House will look into it. The problem I foresee is that if it is treated as internal security issue, it might take some time but if it is seen as a matter of urgent national importance, it will be taken straight on the floor of the house."

He explained that an obvious mistake was made by the military, who, he said, are trying to convince the Rivers State government that their operation in the Tombia axis of the state was flawless. And based on the contrary information available to the government, the situation was being reviewed.

According to Davies, "I know that the governor is trying to ascertain the exact situation of things. He actually had conflicting reports. The intelligence is trying to convince the governor that what they did was right but the governor is inundated with contrary information. He is actually looking at the matter."

He insisted that as far as Elem-Tombia was concerned, all those who were killed were innocent people. He challenged the JTF to prove that those killed in Elem-Tombia were the so-called militants that necessitated the attack

"It is obvious to everybody that a mistake was made on the side of the security agencies. There are no mistakes about it. What is left now is to find way to address the mistake. I think the security organisation was not properly informed. An error of judgment had been made."

The Joint Task Force (JTF) reportedly carried out the operation on September 13, attacking Elem-Tombia, Ogboma, Elem-Bekinkiri, Oloko, Iyalla-Ama, Alapuminjibiri and Mbiakafimimo.

But the JTF has denied the allegation that the military attacked and killed civilians during the raid on militants' camp around the Elem-Tombia general area.

Its Commander, Brigadier-General Sarkin Yarkin Bello denied that the attack on the Tombia general area was pre-meditated, insisting that the encounter the JTF had was with the militants and not unarmed civilians.

Surprisingly, a video of the military operation shown to journalists by the JTF Commander in Port Harcourt indicated that the military was unchallenged, as it pushed through to the communities.

Indeed, the video revealed soldiers smashing drinks and setting buildings and property inside ablaze. They also carted many items away from the raided communities.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) - the dominant militant group in the region - appeared to confirm the JTF claim that it attacked militant camp in the area.

Claiming civilians among nine militants killed in the JTF raid at a time of a lull in hostilities, the MEND subsequently declared an 'oil war' against oil installations and military personnel guarding such facilities.

The reprisal attacks code-named 'Hurricane Barbarossa,' were prosecuted for eight days with heavy toll on oil pipelines and flow stations of major oil companies alleged killing of many troops before the MEND declared a unilateral ceasefire.

But the JTF has debunked the report of death of any of its troops in the hands of the militants.

Yet, on the strength of the said military attacks on their communities, the Tombia Council of Chiefs has petitioned the presidency and the National Assembly, requesting for investigation into the destruction of their villages and the killing of over 30 persons by the JTF.

In the petition endorsed by the chairman of the and the secretary of the Council, Chief Lucas Aluye-Benibo and Chief Daye Ikiroma-Owiye, they said the people of Tombia now live in perpetual fear "because there seemed to be a concerted plan for systematic extermination of their people.

They particularly referred to strong "rumour" from the military quarters that the next place of attack by the JTF would be the Tombia Town and its settlements.

"Our citizens have started running away from the communities for fear of being killed by the Nigerian security forces," they alleged.

Really, a visit by The Guardian to Tombia exposed stories of how this once thriving community has changed over the years and particularly within a few weeks.

The sea route to Tombia is most often empty, a lucid indication of the atmosphere of fear that pervades the area

source:http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/news/article02//indexn2_html?pdate=280908&ptitle=JTF%20Attacks:%20'Please,%20Save%20Our%20Souls'