By Funso Alarape
Sunday March 17, 2024
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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given order for the arrest of killers of the 14 soldiers in Okuoma Community in Delta State who were said to be on peace mission.
The President gave the order in a statement on Sunday.
The President said, “On Saturday morning, the Nigerian people and I woke up to the dreadful news of the unprovoked killing of our brave military personnel during a rescue mission to Okuoma Community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.
“The incident occurred on Thursday 14 March, 2024 when our troops, responding to a crisis between Okuama and Okoloba communities in Delta State were ambushed. A Commanding Officer, two Majors, one Captain and twelve soldiers sadly lost their lives. One civilian was also killed.
“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. The military high command is already responding to this incident. The cowardly offenders responsible for this heinous crime will not go unpunished.
“This incident, once again, demonstrates the dangers faced by our servicemen and women in the line of duty. I salute their heroism, courage and uncommon grit and patriotism.
“As a nation, we must constantly remember and honour all those who have paid the ultimate price to keep our country safe, strong and united. The officers and men who died in Okuama community have joined the pantheon of great men and women who gave their all, with honour, in the service of our fatherland.
“Members of our armed forces are at the heart and the core of our nationhood.
Any attack on them is a direct attack on our nation. We will not accept this wicked act.
“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.
“My government will not relent until we achieve peace and tranquillity in every part of Nigeria.
“May God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria and keep the members of our armed forces safe.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu
President & Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
17th March, 2024
Army recovers 14 bodies In Okuoma Community.
Meanwhile, fourteen lifeless bodies of killed soldiers were in the early hours of Saturday recovered by soldiers of the joint task force under the supervision of the General Officer Commanding 6 division Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, at Okuama community, in the Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.
Some of the recovered corpses were said to have been beheaded, while the stomachs and hearts of others were ripped off.
At the NDDC jetty in the coastal Delta community, the bodies of the commanding officer and the two killed majors were seen floating by the river bank as others were separated on land.
Meanwhile, the entire communities in Bomadi and Ughelli south local government areas of Delta State have been cordoned off by operatives of the 6 Division Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, who also oversees the 63 Brigade in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, has ordered a probe into the tragic killing of the four senior officers and 12 soldiers.
Army personnel allegedly burn down Okuoma Community
The Nigerian Army has reportedly set Okuama community in the Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State ablaze over the killing of 16 soldiers on a peace mission by the community youths.
SaharaReporters had reported that the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen Christopher Gwabin Musa, ordered the immediate investigation and arrest of those involved in the killing of a Commanding Officer, two Majors, one Captain and 12 soldiers of 181 Amphibious Battalion, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State.
The Acting Director, Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, who made this known in a statement on Saturday said that the military officers were killed on Thursday while on a peace mission to Okuama community in Bomadi Local Government Area of the state.
They were surrounded and killed by some youths of the community, the military noted.
Following the Chief of Defence order, a manhunt for the killers has been ongoing and some arrests have been made by the soldiers led by the General Officer Commanding 6 Division of the Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam.
However, it was gathered that residents of the coastal community were said to have fled to neighbouring Ughelli for fear of reprisal by the soldiers who had been patrolling the creeks.
Daily Trust reports that many houses were on fire in the community and that the houses were burnt after residents of the coastal community fled to neighbouring Ughelli for fear of reprisal by soldiers.
Whereas it was not clearly established that the military was responsible for burning down the houses, some gunboats suspected of belonging to the Nigerian Navy, were reportedly sighted behind the houses on fire in the community.
As images and videos of the incident trended on various social media platforms, former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori, also posted about the incident on X platform.
With a video of burning houses, Ibori wrote, “This is Okuama Community in Ewu Kingdom, Ughelli South LGA, Delta State where over a dozen military officers lost their lives this weekend.”
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