A former Youth President of Opu- Nembe, Mr Theophilus Iruo, has debunked an online news which alleged that former Minister of Petroleum and governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress, Chief Timipre Sylva, had a hand in the Army invasion of Opu- Nembe on Friday June 23.
There was pandemonium on Friday night when soldiers invaded the community in search of some youths in the community.
An online report had stated that the community linked Sylva to the invasion and sent a Save-Our- Soul (SOS) to the government.
However, Mr Iruo in an interview said Chief Sylva does not have any control over men of the Nigerian Armed forces, and could not have ordered any military man on any mission when he is not the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
He said the allegations levelled against Chief Timipre Sylva are false, mischievous, and are fabricated to score cheap political goals by political opponents, as it does not reflect the true account of what happened in Opu Nembe kingdom on the night of 23rd June 2023.
Giving true account of what transpired in Opu Nembe which can be verified from the family of the late Chief Nyoun Maddocks Lisbon Otorudigha (rtd Warrant Officer), he said some youths led by the youth President of the community, Mr Ayerite Moses and approached members of the deceased family and allegedly demanded a substantial amount of money as security fee, threatening that they would stop the burial if the security levy was not paid.
Iruo said the son of the deceased who is a Major in the Army upon getting wind of the atrocious demand from Ayerite Moses was infuriated and alerted his colleagues who were on ground for the burial.
Iruo pointed out that the military went after Moses Ayerite and his boys tracing them to their hideout but they escaped.
Iruo expressed displeasure about spreading of fake news and warned Bayelsans should not allowed themselves to be deceived by a smear campaign against Chief Sylva.
