- Ijaw Youth Council says Okuama is Urhobo, not Ijaw community
Soldiers deployed to Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State have continued razing more houses in the community, following last Thursday’s abduction and killing of a Lietenant Colonel, two Majors, a Captain and 12 other soldiers who were on a peace and rescue mission to the riverine community.
A community source, who spoke to our reporter, said the military are currently occupying Okuama and that several houses had either been razed or demolished.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian military on Sunday deployed armoured vehicles to Bomadi, headquarters of Bomadi LGA over the killing of military personnel on peace and rescue mission in Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area.
The military personnel and no fewer than three armoured vehicles were seen zooming across the Bomadi bridge late on Sunday, probably heading towards the creeks.
This is even as President Bola Tinubu ordered the military high command to fish out those who killed the military officers. Also, Mr. Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 elections, has condemned the killing of army officers and soldiers in Delta State, describing it as barbaric and unacceptable.
This is just as Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State condemned the killing of the officers and soldiers, describing it as despicable and alien to the culture of Deltans.
On its part, the Pan- Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), led by Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, said the act is totally unacceptable and must be fully investigated.
Meanwhile, Senator Ede Dafinone, has called on the dramatis personae involved in the ongoing carnage at Okuama community to sheathe their sword for the sake of humanity.
A community source, who spoke to newsmen, said: “As I’m talking to you right now, soldiers are there and they continue the demolition of buildings in the community, and I don’t think they will leave very soon. They usually come to our community to buy some stuff and go back to Okuama.’’
Recall that last week, soldiers from the 222 battalion of the military Joint Task Force, JTF, Bomadi Division, led by the commander, Maj. Jaffa, were ambushed and killed while on a rescue mission to Okuama to release a hostage, Mr. Anthony Aboh, from neighbouring Okoloba community in Bomadi over a lingering land dispute. The situation became tense when more soldiers were killed the following day.
The perpetrators of the act, who fled the community during the remobilisation and the consequent reprisal attack on Okuama by the military, are now at large, with the military launching a manhunt for them in n e i g h b o u r i n g communities.
Meanwhile, a renowned ex-militant leader and his group, who was allegedly hired by Okuama community to fight their neighbouring Okoloba community, is said to have been declared as the prime suspect, and is currently on the run.
Indigenes who fled the community, especially children and women, are reported to be living with relatives in neighbouring communities in Ughelli South.
It was learned yesterday that the military has commenced a counteroperation. The operation, according to sources, is to fish out the suspects who perpetrated the babaric act of not only killing the soldiers but also beheading some of them as witnessed in viral videos of the bodies recovered.
Sources confirmed that the Land Component Delta Safe, Major General Jamal Abdusalam, the GOC, 6 Division, and the Commander, Operation Delta Safe, Rear Admiral John Okeke are coordinating the counteroperations.
Meanwhile, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Western Zone, on Sunday condemned the killing of military personnel in Okuama community.
A statement by DoubraOkotete, Omoghomi Olu-Derimon and Luguard Izoukumor, chairman, secretary and information officer, respectively, IYC described the killing as barbaric and and wicked.
The statement read: “While we do not want to support the decision of the military in burning down the entire Okuama community and leaving the already impoverished inhabitants to suffer, we wish to call on Delta State government to swing into action and protect the lives of the innocent people in the area.
“It is also pertinent to clarify that Okuama community where this sad event occurred is an Urhobo speaking community in Ughelli South LGA, and not an Ijaw community.
“We are, therefore, using this medium to call on Governor Oborevwori and the Nigerian security agencies to investigate and bring to book the perpetrators of the heinous act.”
With reports from Vanguard