Okuama in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State where community youths masterminded the abduction, beheading and killing of 22 soldiers have been razed.
Sources confirmed that the total number of dead has risen to 22, up from the initial figure of 15. The gallant heroes who died in the cause of peace include four officers – Commanding Officer of 181 Amphibious Battalion Oleh (Lieutenant Colonel Abdullahi Hassan Ali), the Joint Task Force (JTF) Commander in Bomadi (Major Gembu Shafa), another unidentified Major and Captain.
In addition, the bodies of 18 soldiers have been recovered as a result of the gruesome killings.
The slain military personnel met their deaths while responding to a distress call after communal crisis erupted between the Okuama and Okoloba communities, both in Delta State.
Sources said that the razing of Okuama may have been perpetrated by some angry soldiers who are carrying out ongoing manhunt for the killers of their colleagues.
Already, Acting Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, said that some arrests have been made over the killings.
The ongoing manhunt for the killers of the soldiers and recovery of the bodies or the abducted soldiers is led by General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 division Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam.
Residents of Okuama, which is a coastal community, have reportedly fled to neighboring Ughelli for fear of a reprisal by the soldiers who have taken over the creeks as part of their patrols and hunt for the killers of their colleagues.
On Friday evening, recovered bodies of 14 soldiers killed in the Thursday massacre arrived NNDC Jetty. 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.
Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has already ordered a probe into the tragic killing of four senior officers and 12 soldiers.
Acting Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, said in a statement on Saturday that the soldiers were surrounded by some community youths when troops of the 181 Amphibious Battalion were on a peace mission in area.
According to General Gusau: “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 Defence Spokesperson also added: “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 in place to unravel the motive behind the attack.”