Senator Bola Tinubu and the Senate have directed the military to track down the assailants who killed 16 Nigerian Army personnel during a peace mission to the Okuama community in the Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.
It was reported on Sunday that the military searched the warring communities and detained several individuals, including three main suspects, as the President stated that the Defence Headquarters and the Defence Chief had full authority to bring the responsible parties to justice.
Additionally, retired army generals and civil society organizations strongly condemned the soldiers' killers and urged for their prompt arrest and prosecution to dissuade other criminal elements.
Following the killing of the Army personnel, numerous residents of Okuama in the Ughelli South Local Government Area and Okolaba in the Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State fled the communities, as soldiers took control of the area.
Under the supervision of Major General Jamal Abdussalam, the Joint Task Force recovered the mutilated bodies of the soldiers at the Okuama community.
An ambush on Thursday, March 14, 2024 resulted in the deaths of a commanding officer, two Majors, one Captain, 12 soldiers, and one civilian.
Since January 27, 2024, neighboring communities have been embroiled in a communal land dispute, stemming from the ambush and killing of three Okuama youths by youths from Okoloba. The dispute arose from a longstanding land issue in the area.
Reportedly, the assailants hid the corpses of the deceased individuals. Subsequently, some Okuama youths ambushed and held a man named Mr. Anthony Aboh, an Okoloba native, hostage on Wednesday.
The Chairman of the Okoloba community alerted the Divisional Police Officer, Bomadi Police Division, the Joint Task Force, the Department of State Service, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The Joint Task Force swiftly responded by moving to Okuama to rescue the hostage.
JTF personnel
Upon spotting the JTF personnel, the aggrieved youths of Okuama allegedly opened fire on them at the waterfront, resulting in the death of two soldiers and the disappearance of several others.
This escalated into a gun battle between the youths and the military, leading to severe injuries among some soldiers.
Amid the chaos, some soldiers reportedly managed to escape with the two wounded soldiers, who are currently recuperating in an undisclosed hospital in Bomadi.
Troops assumed control of Okoloba and Okuama communities on Sunday and thoroughly searched for the perpetrators.
Tinubu vows retribution
In a statement he personally signed, Tinubu declared, “The cowardly offenders responsible for this heinous crime will not go unpunished.”
The response is titled ‘Statement on the killing of Nigerian soldiers on a peace mission to Okuoma community in Delta State.’
Tinubu gave new orders to search and prosecute the people behind the incident, while acknowledging that the military high command was already responding.
The President stated that the Defence Headquarters and Chief of Defence Staff have been given full authority to bring to justice anyone found responsible for this terrible crime against the Nigerian people.
As the Commander-in-Chief, he joined well-meaning Nigerians and the armed forces in mourning and expressing deep sadness over the unnecessary death of the brave soldiers.
He also offered his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased soldiers, their colleagues, and loved ones.
The Senate expressed sympathy to the military over the killing of the commanding officer of the 181 Battalion, two Army Majors, and 12 soldiers.
Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Nigerian Army, personally offered condolences to the service chiefs over the loss of their men in a statement he signed.
He expressed his deepest condolences to the Chief of Defense Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the Nigerian Army, and officers and men of Operation Delta Safe for the tragic loss of personnel who were mercilessly killed during a peace mission to Okuoma Community in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State on Thursday, March 14, 2024.
He also praised the bravery and commitment of the Commanding Officer, three officers, and 12 soldiers during the incident, saying that their legacy will continue to inspire others.
Senator Yar’Adua also promised the unwavering support of the Senate for the investigations into the gruesome killing of the soldiers.
He commended the swift response of the Chief of Defense Staff in ordering an immediate investigation to apprehend those responsible for the heinous crime, emphasizing the importance of serving justice.
The Nigerian Army's strong focus on maintaining peace and security in the nation shows the resilience and dedication of the Armed Forces.
The Senate Committee on the Nigerian Army firmly stands with the Defense Headquarters and the Nigerian Army in seeking justice for the fallen heroes through necessary investigations and legal processes.
Ex-generals express sorrow over killings
Lt Gen Tukur Buratai (retd), a former Chief of Army Staff, called the killing of military personnel in Delta State “monstrous and barbaric.”
He insisted that the culprits must face serious consequences in a statement issued by the chairman, TY Buratai Humanity Care Foundation, Ibrahim Danfulani.
He described the killing of soldiers in Delta State as the most monstrous and barbarous in Nigeria’s recent history, based on the report he received.
“The wrongdoers must be dealt with severely, to discourage everyone. Soldiers should always be respected and honored for the sacrifices they make to keep the country safe.”
Also, Retired Maj. Gen. Garba Audu expressed dismay at the killing of the military personnel, stating that considering the sacrifices made by the army officers, they should not die in such a way.
He urged Nigerians to show respect to soldiers.
Audu expressed disbelief, saying, “How can people kill soldiers who are protecting and sacrificing for them? It is not good. They went to make peace and you killed 15 of them? That is not good at all.’’
Brig. Gen. Bashir Adewinbi (retd) called on the government to take strong measures against the perpetrators of the crime.
He also suggested that the disputed land should be taken from the warring parties.
Adewinbi condemned the killing of the personnel who went on a peace mission in Delta state, saying, “The killing of the personnel who went on a peace mission in Delta state is highly condemned and totally unacceptable. If they can do that to military personnel, who else can be free from them? Recall that a similar thing happened in Odi village and the entire place was leveled.’’
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, joined others in condemning the killing of the army officers and soldiers in Delta state.
In a post on his X handle, Obi said, “For a nation already dealing with a high level of insecurity, the killing of our security personnel who put their lives on the line for the security of the nation will be too much of a burden to bear.’’
Delta senator, Rep
Also, Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, who represents Delta South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, condemned the brutal murder of the 16 soldiers, describing the land dispute between the communities as “a crisis taken too far.”
Thomas, who is also the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence, revealed this in a statement issued in Warri, Delta State, expressing condolences to the military and the immediate families of the slain soldiers.
Also, a member of the House of Representatives representing Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency of Delta State at the National Assembly, Nicholas Mutu, condemned Thursday’s killing of 16 soldiers by angry youths of Okuama community.
However, he disapproved of the distortion of facts of the incident in a section of the press, which linked the fate of the soldiers to Ijaw militias in Okoloba, an Ijaw community in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta state.
He stated, “The killings of the 16 soldiers, including a Lt. Col, two Majors, and one Captain of the Nigerian Army, on a peacekeeping assignment in the Urhobo community was senseless and embarrassing,” he stated.
On his part, a human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, on Sunday urged the Federal Government to put an end to the reprisal attacks by soldiers of the Nigerian Army in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta state.
Falana, in a statement, urged the military to stop the killings of residents, while calling for a full probe of the incident.
Falana 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.
“Because Odi and Zaki Biam were destroyed due to soldiers being killed, the authorities should have taken steps to prevent the attack and burning of the villages.”
Civil Society Organizations express strong disapproval of the killings.
Isa Sanusi, the Country Director of the Amnesty International, criticized the killing of the officers, stating that the incident indicated that the security situation was getting out of control.
He encouraged the military to follow human rights laws when prosecuting captured culprits.
“In the past 10 years, the military has conducted internal operations in at least 32 states. This is highly unusual and indicates that the insecurity is nationwide and escalating.
“Regarding the situation in Delta, we denounce the killing of the 16 military personnel and urge the government to investigate and ensure that those suspected of involvement are fairly tried.
“During this process, we always urge the military to ensure that their actions are in line with human rights laws and regulations governing their rules of engagement,” he said.
Meanwhile, Debo Adeniran, the Chairman of the Centre for Accountability and Open Leadership, stated that the situation revealed the deteriorating security condition in the country, highlighting the Army's failure in intelligence gathering and protection of its personnel.
He called on the President and Commander-in-Chief to strengthen the security framework and urged the intelligence units of security agencies to be proactive rather than reactive.
He remarked, “It indicates the weakened state of the security system in the country, because normally when there is an attack, one would expect to rely on the army and other security agencies for assistance.
“But in a situation where the military is aware of a security challenge in a location and still moves there without adequate protection, it is highly condemnable. It's baffling that they fell into the ambush of the enemy marauders, who callously killed them, beheaded several, and dismembered their bodies.
“This indicates that they had sufficient time to cause havoc. It signifies a general failure on the part of security, intelligence gathering, and necessary protection that should concern our military and intelligence institutions.
“If armed forces can be brutalized, it means nobody is safe anymore. Therefore, we urge the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to enhance the security system in the country. Intelligence agencies, the Directorate of Military Intelligence, DSS, all of them should take action and prevent problems beforehand. They must be proactive rather than reactive.”
Meanwhile, Emmanuel Onwubiko, the National Coordinator of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, condemned the killing in a statement.
He stated that HURIWA strongly condemns the terrible criminal act and one of the most horrifying acts of terrorism, the brutal killing of many Army officers by some armed criminals in a part of Delta State.
He expressed that this is extremely tragic and despicable, to say the least, and hopes that all those involved in this attack are arrested and appropriately dealt with.
However, an Urhobo elder statesman, David Emeneh, has accused the Nigerian military of carrying out large-scale and indiscriminate killings, cautioning that the soldiers' actions could lead to a repeat of the Odi incident.
Emeneh, in a phone interview with The PUNCH, alleged that soldiers had started targeting innocent civilians in the community instead of pursuing the criminals who committed the crime.
He mentioned that if it involves a large-scale arrest, no one would complain, but widespread killings are currently taking place in the community. A situation where soldiers enter a community and open fire is a terrible thing.
He also expressed concern that the same thing that happened in Odi is happening in Okuama today, emphasizing the negative impact when people take the law into their own hands due to the actions of a few troublemakers. Additionally, when miscreants go to an area and cause chaos, and the military's response is to wipe out an entire community, it's a bad sign.
Likewise, the President of the Urhobo Youth Association, Prince Pureheart Kpeyi, has stated that their community is peaceful and urges people not to be judged by the actions of a few.
Kpeyi, in a phone interview with The PUNCH on Sunday, expressed the association's trust in the state governor and other authorities to get to the bottom of the matter while also suggesting that misinformation may have led to the crisis in the region.
He remarked that from his perspective, the Urhobo, Itsekiri, and Ijaw nations are united as brothers. He highlighted the possibility of misinformation leading to the situation and emphasized that these regions have been peaceful for many years.
The National Leader of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, Chief Edwin Clark, also denounced the killing of the soldiers.
In a statement on Sunday, Clark described the killings as a "dastardly act" and called for a thorough investigation, adding that there should be no immunity for anyone.
The statement states that “The National Leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) and Elder Statesman, Chief Dr Edwin Clark,OFR, CON has received with shock and total condemnation the killing of senior military officers and soldiers at Okuama Community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta on Saturday, 14th March, 2024.
Other reports by Tope Omogbolagun, Deborah Tolu-Kolawole, Uthman Salami, and Nathaniel Shaibu
