- Community Leader Says Land Dispute Led To Killing Of Soldiers In The Community
- Says Families Involved In The Dispute Highly Placed, Call For Real Investigation To Unravel The Truth
- After Meeting Tinubu, Oborevwori Talks Tough, Says Killers Of Military Personnel In Delta Will Be Brought To Book
- Akpabio Fingers Mercenaries As Those Who May Be Responsible For Heinous Crime
By Babajide Okeowo
As outrage, condemnation and anger continued to trail the senseless killings of 17 military personnel in Okuama, a community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State during a peace-keeping mission fresh facts have emerged on what could have led to the heinous crime.
The Matrix reports that Nigerians woke up to the dreadful news of the unprovoked killing of some military personnel during a rescue mission in the community on Thursday, March 14, 2024.
The troops from the 181 Amphibious Battalion deployed in the Bomadi region, were responding to a crisis between Okuama and Okoloba communities in Delta State, when they were ambushed and, in the process, a Commanding Officer, two Majors, one Captain, and thirteen soldiers sadly lost their lives.
The killing has drawn condemnation from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other well-meaning Nigerians who have spoken out against the killing.
Days after the gruesome murder, a community leader in the state Olorogun Sleek Oshare has provided insight into what led to the killing saying a land dispute led to the killing.
While giving insights into the killing, Oshare said the military personnel were in the area as part of measures to settle a land dispute between Okuama and a neighbouring community.
“The quarrel was just a land dispute between one family and another family and land disputes happen over and over again.
“One community felt that the other had a military connection and they were being pressured unnecessarily. The pressure is more on Okuoma and they don’t have anybody to speak for them.
“In the whole narrative, you don’t hear the name of the other community. Where is Okoloba? In the last two days, Okoloba has disappeared because they are also afraid.
READ ALSO: Okuama Killings: Tinubu Talks Tough
“Sometimes, it is made to look as if it were an ethnic thing. It was just a dispute between individuals and Okoloba, which seems to have more connections.
“The families that were involved in the dispute are highly placed. Until we go into the real investigation, the truth will not come out.
“It is then the nation will come out to sympathize with the children, pregnant women, and old people who could have lost their lives in the random shootings.”
“At this point, we should be careful whom we point fingers at, there might be some people who want to incite the authorities against the people of Okuama,” he said.
Meanwhile, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has vowed that the culprits in the killing of soldiers and officers in the state will be fished out and punished accordingly.
Oborevwori gave the assurance while briefing the media after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja on Tuesday.
“I decided to come here to brief Mr President of all the things we have been doing to maintain peace. Mr President has assured me that he is in support of peace and we both condemn the killing of the officers and the soldiers because they were there on a peace mission.
“What is happening now is something that we did not bargain for. But we want to assure everybody that there will be no more attacks on the villages.
“If there’s an attack that has happened in the past, there will be no attack. But we know that those who are culpable will be brought a book but innocent citizens will not be will not be attacked.”
The governor’s comment came hours after he visited the community in the wake of the incident. Oborevwori says the area has been deserted.
READ ALSO: Youths Ambush, Kill 16 Army Personnel On Peace Mission In Delta
“Well, first and foremost the community people. The place has been deserted,” the governor said.
But he said stakeholders in the state will meet to discuss more on the way forward.
“I’m going to invite stakeholders,” the 60-year-old said. “We are on top of it.”
In a related development, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, says the culprits may be mercenaries, rather than people from the Niger Delta region.
Six days after the incident, Akpabio, who presided over a plenary session on Tuesday in Abuja, stated those responsible may be mercenaries. He said this during a debate on two merged motions by senators Abdulaziz Yar’Adua and Edeh Dafinone.
Dafinone, who represents Delta Central, had raised a motion calling for relief and assistance to victims of the attack. But Akpabio interjected, telling the lawmaker not to conclude yet.
“I don’t want you to conclude. I don’t believe these people are from the Niger Delta – those who did the killings. With respect to men and women in uniform, that is why I am saying that your additional prayers should actually be ‘to carry out a thorough investigation to know whether these people were mercenaries from outside Niger Delta who came to commit,” he said.
“I don’t think these people are Niger Deltans. We are not at war. Even in a period of war [you do not] lose such a large number of personnel. No community will go to the extent of doing this kind of thing. I don’t think they are from Niger Delta.”
