Residents Flee Kokori As Soldiers Comb Town For Kelvin’s Associates, Armoury

At least six schools and the only health
centre in Kokori have been abandoned by
teachers, students and medical personnel,
following the siege laid to the community
by soldiers. Teachers, health workers, parents and their
children were said to have fled for fear of
falling into the hands of soldiers combing
the community for the armory and
associates of Kelvin. A Vanguard source, yesterday, said that
Kokori Girls School, Kokori; Ozegbe Primary
School; Anigboro School; Erijere Model
School; Samono Primary and Secondary
Schools; Samono Primary and Secondary
Schools; Suprina Academy and All Saints Modern College/Primary School had all
temporarily shut down. “Kokori Health Centre, the only health
institution in our community, has also
ceased to function for now, while the
Okarhoro-in-council cannot seat also,” the
source added. President-General of the community, Mr. G.
S. Avbunu-diogba, who confirmed the
development, said: “It is not that
government officially ordered the schools
to be shut down. “In a situation where soldiers besieged the
community and are shooting, teachers,
health workers and parents, have fled with
their children. “We are appealing to the state and Federal
governments to come to our aid, so that
schools will resume and the health
institution reopened.” He said the few villagers, who remained in
the community, do not allow their kids to go
out for fear of the unknown. He alleged that soldiers were breaking into
people’s houses even when Kelvin had been
arrested and still asking of Kelvin and this
was disturbing to the people, as they were
being intimidated for what they knew
nothing about. However, a military officer, told Vanguard:
“Soldiers are on internal operation in Kokori
and they are mindful of the instruction that
they were given to be civil with the
residents. “Their mandate is to fish out criminals in
the area and they have not exceeded that.” Kokori is the home of arrested alleged
kidnap kingpin, Kelvin Oniarah, in Ethiope-
East Local Government Area, Delta State.