Ajakurama and other neighboring communities in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State have fled from their homes as Army drafted over 50 Soldiers to the area in search of the killers of a soldier and recovery of his stolen gun.
Only a few courageous people and those who have no alternative still remain in the environment.
The late soldier, who was buried in a shallow grave by his killers, was on a routine patrol in the area when he and others were ambushed.
It was learned that the villagers fled for fear of being attacked while others were stopped from leaving their homes.
According to sources in Ofunama and Ajakurama, many of the villagers fled through the river to take refuge with their relatives in Benin City.
A spokesman for Ajakurama community, Edah Tam Nike, expressed shock at the treatment being meted by the soldiers to the villagers, despite the pledge by the community to join in the search for the culprits.
He said the villagers were not allowed to leave because the soldiers were concerned about the gun.
However, spokesperson for Operation Delta Safe, Major Ibrahim Abdullahi, denied that the soldiers harassed community members.
He said soldiers were only carrying out a surgical operation to isolate hoodlums, and urged the villagers not to be afraid but to go about their normal duties.
“Our troops were attacked by miscreants and, unfortunately, we lost one soldier.
“What we are doing is a surgical operation to isolate the miscreants and get them arrested. We are after the miscreants.
The people are advised to go about their lawful duties, it is not true that we are stopping them,” Major Abdulahi said.