Gunmen have reportedly shot dead two soldiers in Obonoma community in Akuku Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The incident occurred on Saturday when armed bandits invaded the community and perpetrated the act.
Some of the natives, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, denied that those behind the dastardly act were from Obonoma community.
Reacting to the killing, the Amanyanabo of Abonnema kingdom, King Disrael, Gbobo Bob-Manuel, condemned the development, stressing that the killers of the military men were not from Abonnema.
He said: “The information I am getting is that criminal elements attacked a military checking between Obonoma and Abonnema and killed soldiers.
“We are shocked by this news. We condemned it in its entirety. This is not the attitude of our people because we have lived with the military for years.
“We are shocked by this attack on the military I am telling you that this people who killed the military are not our people. They are criminals who invade our community from time to time for oil bunkering and stealing of other valuables.
“They are bandits who cause us trouble. We are pained by the development. We have asked our people to be vigilant and report any suspicious persons to us and the security so that they will be attested.”
Also, the Chairman, Council of Chiefs, Obonoma, and the paramount ruler of Agu group of Houses, Philip Agu, has described the killing of the soldiers as disheartening.
Agu expressed regrets that their area has been taken over by angry military men, and pleaded with the Nigerian Army to advise their men to be civil in dealing with civilians.
When our correspondent contacted the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Aminu Iliyasu, he said the 6 Division would issue a press statement at an appropriate time.
