*Delta Government Condemns Action

*Troops Ransack Warring Communities

BY GODWIN IJEDIOGOR

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu, on Sunday, March 17, ordered the military to apprehend killers of 16 Nigerian Army personnel who were on a peace mission to the Okuama community in the Ughelli South Local Council of Delta State.

The President granted the Defence Headquarters and Defence chiefs full authority to bring anybody responsible to justice, even as retired Army Generals and civil society organisations condemned the murder of the soldiers and called for suspects’ apprehension and speedy prosecution to serve as a deterrent to other criminal elements.

   This has been a trending video indicating that troops had invaded the community, ostensibly in compliance with the order, combing the warring communities and had arrested some persons, including alleged three prime suspects. But that could not be immediately confirmed.

Many residents of the feuding communities-Okuama and Okolaba in Bomadi Local Council- have reportedly fled as soldiers took over the area.

Mutilated bodies of the soldiers were recovered by the Joint Task Force (JTF) under the supervision of the General Officer (GOC) Commanding 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj-Gen. Jamal Abdussalam, at Okuama community.

A statement by the acting Director, Defence Information, Brig-Gen. Ukur Gusau, on Saturday, March 16, while giving a situation report on the incident, stated: “The troops of 181 Amphibious Battalion, Bomadi Local Council of Delta State, while on peace mission to Okuama community, were surrounded by some community youths and killed on Thursday, March 14, 2024.

“The unfortunate incident occurred when the troops responded to a distress call after the communal crisis between the Okuama and Okoloba communities, both in Delta State.

“The reinforcement team, led by the Commanding Officer (CO), was also attacked, leading to the death of the Commanding Officer, two Majors, one Captain and 12 soldiers.

“The Chief of Defence Staff ( CDS), Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa, has directed the immediate investigation and arrest of those involved in the heinous crime.

“The occurrence has been reported to the Delta State Government. However, the military remains focused and committed to its mandate of maintaining peace and security in the country.

“So far, a few arrests have been made, while steps are in place to unravel the motive behind the attack.

“Additional details later.”

The two neighbouring communities have been engaged in a communal land dispute since January 27, this year, when some youths from Okoloba allegedly ambushed and killed three Okuama youths, whose names were given as Igho Meshack, Godspower Awusa and Okiemute Agbabuleke, as they were returning from Okwagbe.

The assailants were reported to have hidden the bodies of the victims. In reprisal, some Okuama youths on Wednesday, March 13, reportedly ambushed one Anthony Aboh, an indigene of Okoloba, and held him hostage.

Chairman of the Okoloba community was said to have alerted the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Bomadi Police Division, JTF, Department of State Service (DSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The JTF was said to have swiftly swung into action and moved to Okuama with the intention to rescue the hostage.

According to a source, aggrieved Okuama youths, on sighting the JTF personnel, allegedly opened fire on them at the waterfront and killed two soldiers instantly, with some others missing.

The situation soon degenerated to a gun duel between the youths and military, leading to some soldiers sustaining severe bullet wounds.

Some of the soldiers managed to escape with their two wounded soldiers, who were said to be recuperating in an undisclosed hospital in Bomadi.

A reinforcement by the military, which was ambushed, led to further gun battle that resulted in the death of the officers and more soldiers.

In reaction to the dastardly act, Tinubu, in a statement, titled, ‘Statement on the killing of Nigerian soldiers on a peace mission to Okuama community in Delta State,’ which he personally signed, declared: “The cowardly offenders responsible for this heinous crime will not go unpunished.”

While acknowledging that the military high command was already responding to this incident, the President gave fresh marching orders for the manhunt and prosecution of the perpetrators, saying: “The Defence Headquarters and Chief of Defence Staff have been granted full authority to bring to justice anybody found to have been responsible for this unconscionable crime against the Nigerian people.

“As the Commander-in-Chief, I join all well-meaning Nigerians and the men and women of our armed forces to mourn and express my profound grief over the needless death of our gallant soldiers.

“I extend my profound condolences to the families of these fallen soldiers, their colleagues, and their loved ones.”

On his part, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, while condemning the killings, condoles the military, families of victims.

Oborevwori, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Festus Ahon, said: “The Government of Delta State is gravely disturbed by the violence and unprovoked killing of the officers and soldiers, which he described as alien to the culture of Deltans.

    “This incident is despicable and not in sync with the culture and tradition of Deltans. It runs contrary to the values and path of peace that the state government is promoting, as I have always emphasized in our MORE agenda, to enhance peace and security.

“On behalf of the Government and good people of Delta State, I wish to condole, in particular, the families of the killed gallant officers and soldiers, the Nigerian Army and the armed forces in general, over this sad occurrence.

“The state government shall take all measures necessary to fish out all those behind this dastardly act and ensure they are made to face the full wrath of the law.

“Delta State is governed within the tenets of the rule of law and human decency. Acts such as this incident cannot and will not be tolerated.

“Meanwhile, all citizens and residents of the state are enjoined to remain law- abiding and the state government shall continue to take all measures to protect lives and property in Delta State.”

In a post on his X handle, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in last year’s general elections, Peter Obi, condemned the killing, especially in a nation already combating a high level of insecurity.

On his part, a human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), urged the federal government to put an end to alleged reprisal attacks by soldiers in the communities, ostensibly referring to the trending video mentioned earlier, while calling for a full probe of the incident .

Falana, in a statement, said: “Unfortunately, some villages were attacked last night by angry soldiers. After the attack, the villages were set on fire during the nocturnal military invasion.

“Having regard to the destruction of Odi (Bayelsa State) and Zaki Biam (Benue State) over killing of soldiers, the authorities ought to have taken adequate measures to prevent the attack and burning of the affected villages.”

The Country Director of the Amnesty International (AI), Isa Sanusi, while condemning the killings, added that the incident showed that the security situation was “getting out of control,” urging the military to be guided by human rights laws in the prosecution of apprehended culprits.

“In the last 10 years or so, the military have been carrying out internal military operations in at least 32 states. This is very unusual and it shows that the insecurity nationwide is getting out of control.

“Coming to the situation in Delta State, we condemn the killing of the 16 military personnel and call on the government to investigate and make sure that those suspected of responsibility are brought to justice through fair trial.

“And while doing that, we will always ask the military to make sure that whatever they are doing is within the framework of human rights laws and human rights regulations that guide their rule of engagement.”

On his part, National Coordinator of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), Emmanuel Onwubiko, in a statement, condemned the killing, adding: “We in HURIWA condemn in no uncertain terms, the dastardly criminal act and indeed one of the most gruesome acts of terrorism, the brutal slaughtering of so many Army officers by some armed hoodlums in a part of Delta State.

“This is so tragic and despicable, to put it mildly, and it is hoped that all those involved in this terror attack are arrested and decisively dealt with.”

 Urhobo elder statesman, David Emeneh, accused the military of carrying out mass arrest killings in reprisal actions, reminiscent of the Odi and Zaki Biam incidents.

National Leader of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Clark, in a statement on Sunday, March 17, also condemned the killing of the soldiers, which he described as a “dastardly act,” while calling for a full investigation, saying there must be no sacred cows.