From TONY JOHN Port Harcourt
Many natives of Rundele community in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State have fled their homes over shooting of two soldiers and carting away their rifles by suspected local vigilance group.
Daily Sun gathered that the soldiers, who were deployed to guard oil pipelines in the area, had an altercation with some members of a vigilance group popularly called OSPAC, which resulted to the shooting on Saturday.
A community source, who craved to remain anonymous, alleged that the vigilance group personnel who shot the oldiers also carted away their guns and uniforms.
The source further disclosed that there was tension after the incident, as many natives started fleeing the community when information of what transpired filtered to them (soldiers).
The source said the soldiers shot did not die, but sustained gunshot injuries.
He said some of the natives took cover in the bush as at Sunday afternoon, looking for a way to escape to the neighbouring communities.
The traditional ruler of the area, Damian Ejiowhor, the Onyeweli Rundele, has confirmed the incident to journalist, saying that there was tension in the community.
The monarch said that he was told the soldiers and OSPAC team had confrontation on Saturday, and the former came over for the seized rifles and uniform.
The acting spokesperson for 6 Division, Nigeria Army, Port Harcourt, Iweha Ikedichi, could not pick his calls, nor responded to text message sent to his WhatsApp.