Amid accusations and counter-accusations, fleeing and hiding residents of the Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, the Defence Headquarters has published on social media X platform the photographs of its felled 17 men.
The photos come as unnamed members of the embattled community are claiming that soldiers opened fire on them and killed about 50 members of their community.
In their side of the story, they did not say specifically who fired the first kill-shot, or whether the killing of the 50 was a retaliatory attack.
But the military insists it is propaganda at play. “Regrettably, the community complicit in this dastardly act has resorted to media propaganda and shenanigans, rather than engage in a positive effort to fish out the perpetrators of this heinous crime.”
One resident said, “On March 14, military personnel visited Okuama and the people welcomed them. They first said they wanted to walk around the community; they walked around and said they wanted to go to the town hall for a peace talk. The people entertained them as it is customary with such visit.
“They asked for the community chairman and community leaders. They sat with them and they held peace talks together. After that, they asked the community chairman, and some other leaders to follow them.
“The people said they have already held peace talks with them, but they said they must take the leaders away.
“The community refused, and from there, the army turned the whole story to violence, right there in the community town hall, the army started shooting our people there.
“People started running, some were killed instantly, and people ran away because nobody expected shooting by the army that very day.
“Then, the army left, but within a while, they came back with more reinforcement, gunboats, and other things.
“And instantly, about 20 persons were killed, and when they came back again, they began to shoot, they killed nothing less than 50 persons on that day.
“Then, the following day, they mobilised again, some from Bomadi, Okwagbe, they came together and burned the whole community down, that was on March 15.”
A mother on the run said, “Some of us have yet to see our children since March 14. We have been hiding in the bush, some dead bodies are there, therefore, we want the government to come and rescue us.”
On the killing of soldiers, she denied that the community initiated the attack on the army, saying, “The army came to meet us and we entertained them, it was after the peace talk they said they want to take our leaders away. We did not attack the army in the River; it was their insistence to take away the community chairman, secretary, and other leaders that led to the shooting.”
“They killed the youth, women, and children in the town hall but there was confusion everywhere, therefore, people ran helter-skelter.
“We are calling for a full-scale investigation into this incident by the government to find out those killed our people and the soldiers also,” she said.
The Okoloba community, which had been at loggerheads with its neighbouring Okuama, necessitating the peace-keeping role of soldiers, accused Okuama leaders, who they alleged hired a militant leader that purportedly spearheaded the ambush and killing of 16 soldiers.
The Okuama people, in their own claim, accused an Ijaw leader of causing the shooting and killing of 50 indigenes on March 14 by soldiers.
They called on President Bola Tinubu and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to call the military to order as their operations in the area should be neutral, not under any guise.
In the community, the smoke of the fire, allegedly set by avenging soldiers, continues to go up.
The community that lies between Bomadi and Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, has become a ghost town as the media narrative appears to have turned against then despite their claim of innocence. The beheaded and mutilated bodies of 16 military personnel on a peacekeeping mission was found in the community.
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.
Recall that an angry Commander-in-Chief, President Tinubu had given the Defence forces the go-ahead to fish out the killers of his men.
In a statement, he had 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 in Okuama Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.
“The incident occurred on Thursday, March 14, 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 nation 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 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 (DHQ) and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) 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 members of our armed forces safe.”
Earlier reports said sime youths ambushed and killed 16 officers and men of the 181 Amphibious Battalion of the Nigerian Army on peace mission last Thursday.
Those killed were the commanding officer, two Majors, one Captain and 12 soldiers.
On Saturday, the Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, said: “The troops of 181 Amphibious Batallion, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State While on peace mission to OKUOMA community in BOMADI LGA of Delta State were surrounded by some community youths and killed on Thursday, 14 March, 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 death 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 Govt.
“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 in place to unravel the motive behind the attack. Additional details later.”
