Brigadier General Moronfolu Shonibare, Brigade Commander of 63 Brigade and Sector Commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF), ‘Operation Delta Sweep’, has debunked claims that soldiers opened fire on protesters in Abraka, Delta State.
He made the clarification while speaking to newsmen after an enlarged state security council meeting convened by the state Governor, Sheriff Oborewori in Asaba.
Addressing the allegation, Brig. Gen. Shonibare said: “Nobody was shot. The protest was cleared peacefully. So, if anybody says they were shot, the person is lying. My men are very professional.”
He noted that while the protest in Abraka began as a peaceful demonstration, it was later hijacked by disruptive elements who caused chaos.
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“The particular protest in Abraka went violent. Some ragtags, some members of the community hijacked the peaceful protest and started flogging civilians along the roadside, started closing down shops, forcing people to join the protest, and even blocked the highway.
“They were trying to advance towards the police station. They blocked the highway and it became chaos. So the military had to wait, and nobody was shot,” he stated.
The brigade commander explained that the military only stepped in after the police became overwhelmed, and did so without using lethal force.
“In the past two weeks alone, there have been over 11 protests in Delta State in different parts, some involving communities and oil companies, others community-based issues.
“And there was never any protest that the military did not monitor closely to ensure it did not go violent. As I’m speaking to you, there’s a protest going on, and nobody has been shot. So, that is not correct,” he added.
Brig. Gen. Shonibare further disclosed that the protesters in Abraka were demanding the removal of the divisional police officer and had leveled accusations against the police, which, according to him, escalated tensions.
The JTF commander highlighted recent gains recorded by the security forces in the state, stating that “we have rescued over 16 civilians that were about to be kidnapped.
“We are arresting cultists. We have apprehended a lot of them with pistols, both locally made and international and so many other things.
“There’s a lot of effort going on, and we will not relent. We will continue to do our best to make sure that Delta State is clear of all criminals.”