Three Killed in Ogoniland Over Alleged Construction of Army Barracks

George Onah

21 June 2011

Port Harcourt — Three persons were killed in Zor-Sogho community, Ogoniland, in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State over an alleged misinformation about the construction of a military barracks in the area.

Vanguard, however, gathered that the Rivers State Government had planned an agricultural project for the earmarked land, but the owners of the farmland were not informed about the real project.

The disconnect in the information machinery of the council’s leadership led to a widespread rumour amongst the people, suggesting the construction of a military barracks on the land.

The rumour mill fingered some influential persons in the community for allegedly initiating the building of the barracks, sparking disagreement, which led to fighting and resulted in the death of the people.

Meanwhile, the state House of Assembly has set up a committee headed by the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Leyii Kwanee, to resolve the matter and sensitise the people on the agricultural project and its benefits.

“The place earmarked is not for the construction of an army barracks but for an agricultural project,” Kwanee said.

Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Jokogola Adamu, has apologised for the inability of the ministry to adequately sensitise the people on the project and appealed to the people to allow the project to commence .

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