THE Military Board of Inquiry constituted by the Defence Headquarters to investigate circumstances surrounding the killing of 17 officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army in Okuama community, Ughelli South Local Council of Delta State has commenced sitting in Warri.
Recall that the slain soldiers, made up of a Lt-Col, who was the Commanding Officer; two Majors; a Captain and 13 others, were said to have been ambushed and murdered on March 14, while responding to the distress call in the crisis between Okoloba and Okuama communities over land dispute.
The panel convened on Wednesday, April 10 at the Governor’s Office Annex in Warri South Local Council of the state.
The meeting, earlier scheduled for 2p.m., started about 3.45p.m. with six stakeholders from the Okoloba community, Bomadi Local Council, in attendance.
Okuama community was, however, not represented, having declined participation, through its lawyers, over the destruction of the community by the military, following the gruesome killing of the soldiers.
The Director General, Political and Security Services in Delta State, David Tonwe, who ushered Okoloba stakeholders into the meeting room, however, told journalists that they were not permitted to be part of the meeting.
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori had on Friday, April 5, while receiving the Board at the Governor’s Office Annexe in Warri, called for a transparent investigation into the killings, assuring the panel that the state government would provide them with useful information.
Oborevwori said innocent citizens should not be made to suffer any further, adding: “We will also come up with our position paper to submit to you people before you leave. That will guide you on the role that we have played as a state because if we do not come with this position paper, you will not know the role that the state has played.”
Chairman of the Board, AVM David Ajayi, said the panel was in the state “on a fact-finding mission and not to apportion blame. We are here to gather facts from security agencies, community leaders and community dwellers.
“This report will also help to ensure healthy communication that will enhance civil-military relations and ensure that economic activities thrive again in the affected communities.”
Ajayi called on the governor to assist the Board in its assignment to ensure that relevant stakeholders were invited to give accounts of what led to the crisis.
The Board is expected to be in Bayelsa on Friday, April 12, in continuation of its assignment.
