• Confirms arrest of some suspects • Community leader opens up on attack
From Joseph Obukata, Warri
The Director, Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, has confirmed the killing of 16 military personnel deployed on peace mission to two Delta State warring communities of Okuama and Okoloba in Ughelli South and Bomadi LGA.
The Defence spokesman said that troops of the Nigerian Army lost a commanding officer, two majors, one captain, and 12 soldiers on peacekeeping to irate youths in the two warring communities.
According to him, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, following the killing has ordered the immediate arrest and investigation of all those suspected to be involved in the dastardly act.
He said: “The troops of 181 Amphibious Batallion, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, while on a peace mission to Okuoma community in Bomadi LGA of Delta State 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 was also attacked, leading to the deaths of the commanding officer, two majors, one captain, and 12 soldiers.
“The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General 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 being taken to unravel the motive behind the attack”.
However, the Vice President General of the Okuama community, David Akata, has accused the Nigeria Army of invading the community, saying that the “unknown gunmen,” who turned out to be Nigeria Army officers, shot sporadically at anyone in sight, leaving three natives dead and several others injured.
Akata claimed that his community recorded three casualties with many others injured and houses set ablaze as the armed men in military uniforms allegedly wreaked havoc in Okuama community from a speedboat.
His words: “The armed men suspected to be Nigeria Army on Friday, March 14, 2024, carried out the genocide on the citizens of the community by setting their buildings and property ablaze while chanting war songs.
“We woke up to see our community surrounded with men in military uniform numbering in their tens and without just no reason they started shooting at sight leading to the death of three promising youths of the community and several others injured from gun bullets.
“The same military men repeated their genocide actions on the innocent and law-abiding citizens of the Okuama community on Friday, March 15, 2024, leaving many buildings to their rumbles as they carried offensive arson on the community buildings.
“As I speak, the number of persons who died in the barbaric attack could not be ascertained as many of the aged men, women, and youths fled into the nearby bushes and, and we suspect that some women and children might have drowned in the river because many ran into the river out of panic.
“This is disheartening that the Delta State government and security operatives in the state with a lackadaisical approach have not been able to quell the crisis between the two communities. We entered a peace accord with the state government and security operative in the state.
“We stand by the accord, but often times the Okoloba people harassed our people by assaulting them, and our pleas on the state government to expedite action and call the Okolobians to order fell on deaf ears, allowing the Okoloba community people to use their mercenaries military uniforms and bandits to kill our people”.
The two communities had on January 27, 2024, locked horns, leading to the death of three persons identified as Igho Meshack, Godspower Awusa and Okiemute Agbabuleke.