How the military destroyed Odi Community under the command of President Obasanjo

The killing of twelve policemen in the Odi community was reported to President Olusegun Obasanjo and in a swift reaction, Obasanjo wrote to the governor of Bayelsa, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, threatening to declare a state of emergency if those responsible for the murders were not apprehended within two weeks. Responsibility for policing is, however, a federal duty in Nigeria. Before the deadline could expire, soldiers from the Nigerian army moved into Odi, a community of perhaps 15,000 people, engaged in a brief exchange of fire with the young men alleged to be responsible for the deaths of the policemen, and proceeded to raze the town. The troops demolished every single building, barring the bank, the Anglican church, and the health. The aged, visitors, and settlers, may have killed hundreds of unarmed civilians. While the soldiers reportedly shot and killed some of the armed youths who brought trouble to the town, most of the gang is reported to have fled. It was a typical case of ground Zero for the Odi Community, everything on site was brought down, and every human being sited was fired, it was a complete mark out.

COUP D’ETAT: Nigeria’s Crucial Role in Countering Military Coups and Restoring Stability in West Africa

In addition to diplomatic efforts, Nigeria should collaborate with ECOWAS and other regional partners to implement stringent measures that deter further coup attempts. These measures may include targeted economic sanctions, travel restrictions, and arms embargoes against military regimes that undermine democratic processes. By sending a clear message that unconstitutional power grabs will not be tolerated, Nigeria can play a pivotal role in deterring future coup attempts and safeguarding the democratic foundations of the subregion.

Exposed: Foreign names on mining firm’s CAC documents – Seyi Makinde

“It is a failure of the neighbourhood association because we always admonish our people. If you see something that doesn’t look right, then bring it to the attention of the authorities and then they will do something about it.
So, people within this neighbourhood are aware of some of these things but it was never brought to the attention of the authority.”

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