Lawmaker accuses military of brutalising Delta communities

A member of Delta State House of Assembly, Evans Ivwurie, has accused the military of brutalising members of some communities in his constituency.The affected communities, Ovre-Eku and Ovre-Igun both in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, have been in dispute between Edo and Delta States. Expressing dismay over what he described as the continued manhandling of residents of the communities, the lawmaker, who represents Ethiope East, lamented the delay by the state and Federal Governments to wade into the matter, stated that the matter if not properly handled, might result in the breakdown of law and order in the affected communities. 

Speaking to Vanguard, yesterday at Eku, Ivwurie said: “Residents of the affected communities have been deprived access to their farmlands and are consistently being tormented by soldiers who are supposed to be protecting lives and property. “As the lawmaker representing the affected communities, I have moved a motion on the floor of the state House of Assembly, with an appeal to the state and Federal Governments to call to order, the soldiers who have been molesting residents of the affected communities.

 “The brutalization which my people are undergoing in their own land in the hands of soldiers is unacceptable. I will not accept it and will stand to defend them at all times. “The soldiers not only molest women who had embarked on a peaceful protest, but they also assault journalists on duty who were covering the protest.