Okpella, a peace loving town
OKPELLA: In a shocking display of brutality, the quiet town of Okpella became the backdrop for a horrifying episode of violence, as armed soldiers affiliated with the BUA Group Cement Factory mercilessly attacked peaceful protesters, leaving a trail of death and devastation in their wake. The incident has ignited a sense of urgency within the community, demanding swift intervention from the state government to prevent further bloodshed and protect innocent lives from the hands of these paid, unhinged soldiers.
Some of the youth who were killed at the protest
The disturbance began innocently enough, as a group of concerned individuals known as the “Integrity Youths Movement Okpella” organized a peaceful demonstration. Their objective was to draw attention to the persistent non-implementation of crucial provisions outlined in the Community Development Agreement (CDA), as well as the unjust deduction of 70% from their hard-earned salaries by private contractors operating within the area.
However, the peaceful nature of the protest was soon undermined by a select group of individuals who, benefiting from the ongoing irregularities, saw fit to exploit the situation for their own sinister motives. This unruly faction hijacked the demonstration, transforming it into a full-blown riot. Armed with firearms, they callously unleashed an onslaught on the peaceful protesters, aided and abetted by the presence of the very soldiers entrusted with maintaining order and protecting the community.
Youth on a peaceful protest
Under the watchful eyes of these soldiers, the hoodlums indiscriminately fired upon the defenseless demonstrators, callously dismantling the hopes and dreams of countless individuals. Bullets tore through the air, piercing the bodies of innocent protesters, leaving a grim and haunting scene in their wake.
If the unfathomable assault on the peaceful demonstrators was not enough, the soldiers took their reign of terror a step further. In a brazen act of aggression, the armed forces invaded the community later that evening, their guns firing without restraint. Chaos ensued as the terrified inhabitants of Okpella fled in all directions, their lives hanging by a thread. The soldiers exhibited no regard for human life, leaving countless individuals injured and claiming the lives of two innocent victims, plunging their grieving parents into unfathomable despair.
Soldiers on protest day alleged to have killed some of the youth on protest.
The Okpella community now stands united in a desperate plea for intervention, urging the state government to step in and rescue them from the clutches of these hired enforcers of violence, whose actions defy all sense of humanity. The relentless onslaught by these soldiers, over a span of a mere seven months, has already resulted in the loss of at least four lives within the community. The death toll continues to rise, leaving the people of Okpella in a perpetual state of fear and anguish.
It is imperative that the state government responds to this urgent call for justice, for the sake of Okpella’s innocent inhabitants and their grieving families. The time for silence is over; action must be taken to hold the BUA Group Cement Factory accountable for the atrocities committed by their soldiers. The people of Okpella deserve justice, and it is the duty of the government to ensure that the perpetrators face the full extent of the law, sparing no effort to bring an end to this reign of terror.
The question remains: Who will avenge the people of Okpella? The government’s response will speak volumes about their commitment to safeguarding the lives and rights of their citizens. Okpella eagerly awaits their answer.
SKJ