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Website shows the scale of destruction following JTF attack on Ayokoromo

Top: Large parts of the community were raised to the ground during the JTF attack
Bottom: Life continues amonst the rubble

On December 1 2010, Ayakoromo in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State was invaded by armed units of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in search of the leader of the Niger-Delta Liberation Force, "General" John Togo.

The community was subject to aerial bombardment and was mostly torched with countless people left dead including Kalomar Bonaventure and Tolo Egbe, who were the headmaster and assistant headmaster of the primary school.

Hundreds of others were left wounded or homeless.

The attack was immediately condemned by international and local NGO's for its brutality and heavy-handed use of troops, military aircraft, gunboats and armoured tanks against a civilian population.

From the Ayakomoro website:

"At about 12noon that day, soldiers in more than 10 gun boats started shooting indiscriminately from the western fringe of the town. In less than 20 minutes after the gun boats were seen, 4 jet- fighters from the Warri axis emerged and started shelling the community. From the eastern end of the community landed heavy artillery with grenade launchers and other sophisticated weapons. It was a thoroughly-planned and mobilized punitive expedition. By our last count, 15 children, 11 women and 25 men have been confirmed dead. Over 100 persons have been declared missing. And over 10,000 persons have been displaced."

Following on from the attack, which failed to capture the militant leader, the JTF maintained a heavy presence in the community and initially denied anyone access to asses the damage and provide aid to the traumatised community.

>> Details of the attack and photos of the scale of the destruction can now be found on the Ayakoromo.org website.