The sad episode that led to the massacre and the sacking of Odi community in 1999 is set to repeat itself as the Nigerian Army is set to lay siege to Ogboinbiri community where 12 soldiers were killed on Sunday.
Unlike that of Odi, however, the militants are ready to do battle with the military as youths are said to be trooping in to the embattled community from as far away as Warri, Burutu, Bomadi and Patani in Delta state and Okirika in Rivers state.
The movement of the boys followed reports that the federal government has deployed several hundreds troops to Ogboinbiri to recover the bodies of soldiers killed and those held as Prisoners of War by the militant when the Ogboinbiri flow station belonging to Italian oil company, Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) was invaded by rampaging militants.
Even as the youths are converging at the community, Troops from the Elele Amphibious Battalion of the Nigerian Army yesterday started moving to Yenagoa.
The movement, THISDAY checks reveals, is part of the Army�s effort to warn the people on the consequences of their children action and to call them to order as the Army is ready to do battle with the boys at the expiration of the 48 hours ultimatum given to them.
The ultimatum was handed over to the state Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva by the Commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Brig. Gen. Lawrence Ndagene on Tuesday afternoon.
All effort to get the Commander of the JTF, Gen Ndagene and his Public Relations Officer, Major Omale Ochagwuba to comment on the rumour making the rounds that a State of Emergency may be imposed on the state if the military option was carried out proved abortive.
Contacted however, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Timipre Sylva, Mr. Ebimo Amungo dismissed the rumour.
He clarified that the ultimatum issued by the federal government on the return of the soldiers was issued to the militants not the state government.
According to him, the Governor is not in charge if security at the flow station or anywhere at all, adding that all the state government can do is ensure that all is well in the state.
Amungo said the Governor has been meeting with all arms of security in the state to ensure that situation returns to normal.
He admitted that the militants are still occupying the flow station and efforts are still on to persuade them to vacate facility peacefully.
Reacting to the Ultimatum issued by the federal government, a Non-Governmental-Organisation (NGO), Government of the People (GOP), lamented the sad turn of events in the state.
In a statement made available to THISDAY in Yenagoa and signed by its coordinator, Dr. Youpele Banigo, the GOP described the Reports that Federal Government has �issued a-48 hour ultimatum to the Bayelsa State Government to produce 21 officers and oil workers, or face the full wrath of a full military action� as a worrisome development.
It would be recalled that on Sunday June 17, 2007 militants invaded an oil flow station belonging to the Italian company AGIP located at Ogboinbiri, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State and engaged security personals protecting the facility in a gun battle.
Earlier in the week, soldiers deployed to protect the facility killed nine youths in the area, an action which was follwed by Sunday reprisal action by the youth.
The GOP lamented that the situation is that �a sad replay of history appears to be on the way. In the early days of the first civilian/democratic government a similar event occurred at Odi when youths allegedly killed police officers, which culminating to the killing and destruction of Odi, and the rest is now history. But suffice it to say that we have not learnt from history, and may likely repeat that costly mistake.
Already tension is mounting in the area as the local people, including children are said to be fleeing from Ogboinbiri and the neighbouring communities following the elapse of the ultimatum.
�Government of the People�, is deeply concerned about the situation and we are compelled to call on all and sundry, especially the Federal Government, State Government, the communities leaders, the youths, and the Nigerian military to be extremely cautious so that we to avoid another Odi or Odioama.�
The group said �Ogboinbiri borders Amasooma where the Niger Delta University is located. The University accumulates a considerable large number of people from around the country including students, scholars, researchers and other non-academic workers.
We therefore call whoever that is holding these officers and workers to immediately and unconditionally release them on humanitarian grounds and also to avoid a military reprisals�