By Nelson Utip
Officers of The Nigerian Army has laid siege on the Creeks of Delta and Bayelsa States following the killing of some of their officers by yet to be identified persons, a manhunt has been launched to fish out the perpetrators of the dastardly act while several houses has been razed down. The monarch of Okuama community has fleed to take refuge in Asaba according to report.
President Bola Tinubu has warned that such dastardly act will not be tolerated.
Troops have been deployed to the troubled spots of Ijaw and Urhobo communities in the two states, paralyzing business and other activities. About six gunboats has been deployed so far stationed at The Okuama jetty to checkmate the restive youths.
Meanwhile some names has been penciled down by the military authorities as hoodlums who carried out the bizarre act.
It would be recalled that 16 soldiers, including the commanding officer of 181 Amphibious Battalion, Bomadi, a Lt. Col, two army majors, an Army Captain and 12 other personnel, who were on peacekeeping operation in Okuama community were ambushed and killed in yet unclear circumstances, on Thursday last week, their headless and dismembered bodies recovered from the Creeks of Okuama community on Saturday.
Lt. General Lagbaja, The Chief of Army Staff was expected at the scene yesterday ta appraise the situation and efforts at arresting the miscreants.
The military is working on information to apprehend the miscreants and have extended their dragnet to neighbouring communities. Okuama Community is deserted as indigenes had fled to save havens. The suspected leader of the killer squared is believed to have fled to his paternal home in Bayelsa state.
Unconfirmed claims has it that some indigenes of the community were killed by angry soldiers on Saturday.
The Urhukpe of Ewu-Urhobo HRM, Clement Ikolo has relocated to Asaba to take refuge.
“We now have sufficient numbers of men (troops) on ground in Okuama and its environs to effect the arrest of the killers of our officers and soldiers.
“We have six gunboats by the jetty of Okuama and we are combing the neighbouring creeks of Bayelsa and Delta States for the killers, who had already fled to areas they considered as safe havens.
“But we must apprehend them. Their leader, whose mother is from Okuama, has fled to his paternal community in Bayelsa state. We must get him and his accomplices. They can’t waste that number of officers and men and go scot-free,” A military source said. The incident was confirmed by The Director, Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau in a statement .
Meanwhile President Bola Tinubu has given the military authorities the mandate to fish out the miscreants, calling it “a direct attack on our nation”
“Any attack on our armed forces is a direct attack on our nation. We will not accept this wicked act. My government will not relent until we achieve peace and tranquility in every part of Nigeria.” The President said.
