By Wealth Oghenemaro
Brigadier General Moronfolu Shonibare, Commander of the 63 Brigade and head of Sector 1 in the Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Sweep, has denied allegations that soldiers opened fire during a recent protest in Abraka, Delta State.
Speaking to journalists shortly after a high-level security meeting held in Asaba, General Shonibare dismissed the shooting claims as false and emphasized that no lives were lost during the incident.
“Let me be clear: nobody was shot. The protest was managed without the use of firearms,” he said. “Anyone suggesting otherwise is simply spreading misinformation. My troops acted with utmost professionalism.”
The meeting, chaired by the Delta State Governor, brought together traditional rulers, lawmakers, local government officials, members of the State Executive Council, and top security leaders to discuss pressing security issues in the state.
According to the general, the protest, which initially began peacefully, descended into chaos when it was overtaken by unruly elements. He described scenes of road blockades, shop closures, and threats against bystanders.
“What started as a protest soon turned into mob action,” he explained. “They blocked the highway, assaulted innocent people, and attempted to storm the police station. At that point, the police called for support, and the military intervened—but without discharging any weapons.”
General Shonibare clarified that the military was only deployed after police units struggled to maintain control. He stressed that throughout the confrontation, his men refrained from using lethal force.
He also put the Abraka incident in a wider context, revealing that there have been more than 11 protests in Delta State in recent weeks, many of them related to disputes involving oil companies and internal community matters.
“In all those protests, the military’s role has remained strictly supportive and non-lethal,” Shonibare maintained. “Even as we speak, there’s an ongoing protest somewhere, and not a single shot has been fired.”
He revealed that the protest in Abraka was driven by calls for the removal of a Divisional Police Officer (DPO), adding that tensions escalated due to grievances directed at the police.
Beyond the protest, the security meeting addressed broader concerns such as kidnappings, cult activities, drug abuse, and communal unrest. The general reported several recent breakthroughs, including the rescue of kidnap victims and the arrest of armed cultists.
“In the last fortnight alone, we’ve prevented multiple kidnappings, taken weapons off the streets, and disrupted several criminal networks,” he said. “We are working tirelessly to keep Delta State safe.”
