Despite interventions from the government and security agencies, the destruction of farmlands and other economic assets of Inyoba-Ama Community in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State has continued undeterred.

Residents of Inyoba-Ama told a Kristina Reports team that visited the impacted areas of the community that they have lost their farm crops and several other economic crops since the ravaging attacks on their community started.

A native of the area, Emmanuel Pepple told Kristina Reports that despite instructions from the Andoni and Bonny Local Governments, the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services to halt action, the duo of Chief Lucky Amakiri and Chief Benson have continued the destruction of their community and harassment of the villagers.

“Though, there was an instruction to Chief Amakiri and Chief Benson to put the work on hold but surprisingly, till on the 24th of February, work is still ongoing.”

“As we speak, work is still ongoing. We are appealing to the LGA, local government chairman to please come to our aid because our means of livelihood is no more, and we are now living on fear.”

A team from Kristina Reports comprising the Port Harcourt Burea team lead, Confidence Biebara, Head, Community Desk, Emily Igoerechinma and Correspondent, Maryjane Obiwunma, visited Inyoba-Ama Community on Saturday, February 24, 2024.

During the tour, the Kristina Reports team witnessed the extent of destruction of massive stretch of farmlands, economic trees, and other vegetation critical to the environmental wellbeing of the community.

Pepple lamented that there have been several attacks from the neighbouring Ataba Community, revealing that, in most cases, the Ataba youths invade their community with arms and ammunition prompting the residents to run for their safety, stressing that “this has been ongoing”.

According to him, the height of the attacks was on Saturday, January 6, 2024 when some Ataba youths led by Chief Lucky Amakiri invaded the community and everybody ran for their lives.

“On the 16th, we got an information that Chief Amakiri has been to our village with bull dozers, bringing down our economic trees, palm fruits, bamboo, and tearing down our forest.”

In his reaction, Chief Lucky Amakiri stated that Inyoba-Ama Community belongs to Ataba Community in Andoni LGA of Rivers State, informing that his traditional ruler mandated him to carry out the project of preparing the place for an imminent development project there.

Recall that Kristina Reports had earlier reported that the destruction of farmlands and economic trees in the area with equipment from Winsko Services Limited in the area.

The report noted that the incident had the potential for a security crisis in the area given that available information indicates that the action of the Ataba Community was a clear encroachment on Inyoba-Ama Community, which is one of the communities belonging to the Fubara Manilla Pepple Chieftaincy House of Bonny Kingdom.