Residents of the volatile Arepo area of Ogun State which has been infiltrated with militants and oil pipeline vandals have been thrown into panic following sanitary military operations in the area.
Unconfirmed reports have it that the military has commenced aerial bombardment of the Iroko creeks in the Arepo area of Ogun State which has been taken over by militants.
This has allayed fears of multiple deaths in the region yesterday. The report which has been denied by the arm resulted from a disturbing news of gunment suspected to be be militants storming Isawo area of Ikorodu, Lagos, and abducting a man identified simply as Hyginius, according to the Vanguard.
The bombardment, it was gathered, was carried out by the Military and police but it was not clear, last night, if those killed included civilians living around the creeks. Details of the operation, said to have lasted 20 minutes, was sketchy at press time. But a tentative report had it that several lives were lost with about 30 houses destroyed.
It was gathered that some helicopters were sighted hovering around the creeks at about 5.30p.m., followed by sporadic gunshots, which jolted the militants. Some of them were said to have hid inside the river.
Residents of Elepete area, who apparently thought it was another attack from militants, scampered for safety.
Police sources said “it was a joint operation.” It was gathered that the helicopters deployed in the operation were of the Air Force, while personnel of the three forces, comprising the Army Navy and Air Force and Police were on board the boats that combed the creeks.
A source said: “These militants are responsible for the attacks on residents at Elepete and Igbolomu areas of Ikorodu. It is an ongoing operation.”
A resident, Nmadu Chionye, said: “We heard the gunshots and took cover. But when we contacted the security men, they told us they were in charge. We learned several persons were killed, but none can tell the exact number.”
Meanwhile, military authorities denied the employment of aerial bombardment in the region as they stated it would destroy the oil facilities installed in the region and cause massive environmental damage.