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Killing of soldiers in Okuama community
- By Mike Kebonkwu
This time calls for deeper reflection and circumspection on the targeting and killings of soldiers and other security agents in the line of duty and the consequence on the safety and security of the country. We should try and suppress emotions, sentiments and probable innate resentment for security agents for occasional out-of-step infractions during their operations. The country is facing real existential threat due to insecurity caused by ethnic militias operating with audacity. The core centre of our national security has been targeted by criminal gangs. Soldiers have fallen into ambushes and attacks by insurgents and bandits before with casualties. But what happened on March 14 in Okuama in Delta State has no parallel.

The attack on soldiers in Okuama and indeed any other community in the country is a direct attack on the state which undermines the territorial integrity of the country. Nigerians should not be mourning the death of those 17 gallant officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army cut down by assassins’ bullets, and butchered with knives in the line of duty. We should be mourning the gradual dissolution and erosion of power of the state and taking over the country by criminals and their backers. The national flag should be flying at half-mast not for those brave soldiers that paid the supreme price, but for the entire nation that is still unable to decide what it wants between protecting a few criminals in ethnic toga and the unity and safety of the country.

We are all lamenting that Nigeria is not safe; why is Nigeria not safe? Nigeria is not safe because we arm and support ethnic militias and hooligans and unleash them on the state for political negotiations and money. There is poor law enforcement because we have rendered the government institutions and agencies responsible impotent and prostrate.

It was a most horrifying scene to see human beings, soldiers killed, dismembered and butchered like animals and their body parts and entrails removed as if for sacrificial rituals to appease some angry gods. Those Okuama youths are brutal cultists high on substance, and inhuman in the extreme. Nobody should be killed like that; not even enemies in the battlefield. To do that to law enforcement agents, and soldiers on lawful duties as emissaries is not just cruel but unacceptable; denouncing it is not just enough.

I will explain further. It is a fundamental customary practice and convention that you do not kill emissaries; you may not like or accept their message. Soldiers represent the coercive arm of state power and authority; killing soldiers in line of duty is not just an affront but a challenge to state authority; it is a recipe for disaster and an invitation to anarchy. Whatever the mission of those soldiers to Okuama, those errant youths took their luck too far and crossed the red line by killing them in that gory, gruesome manner in such display of barbaric savagery.

For a community that allows such a sacrilege to be committed on its soil, it should be also ready for the calamity and consequences of its conspiracy of silence and complicity. Without justifying revenge or reprisal killings, it must always be noted that a friend to an enemy is also an enemy; and whoever provides cover and platform for an enemy is equally an enemy!

Those men and women on uniform are soldiers. Soldiers are not perfect people; but those were our soldiers, Nigerian Army soldiers; they represent each and every community, town, village and hamlet from the entire country without exception. They are supposed to be the guardian sentinel of our liberty and freedom to provide safety to every Nigerian which we expect them to do. Nigerian soldiers are not permitted to turn their weapons on citizens and other law abiding people but whoever levies war on the state and institutions of state is any enemy.

Countries and citizens respect their men and women on uniform because of the unique role they play in the life of their country. Even the greatest democracies in the world are only able to exercise democratic authority far and wide because of the respect and awe with which their military are treated. On January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol Hill, by former President Donald Trump’s Proud Boys’ and White Supremacists to subvert their election and democracy, the military resisted the temptation to be drawn into it and remained neutral to defend the constitution and the rights of the people in spite of pressure from the super maverick Donald Trump. The Nigerian military should not be drawn into politics and settlement of land matters or seen to take sides in communal conflicts. It should stick to its pristine tradition, discipline and value and properly define its line of duty.

I watched the elder statesman, Edwin Kiagbodo Clark on the Arise Television while commenting on the killing admitted that some privileged individuals have used the military at one point or the other for dispute settlement. The military should resist such temptations at all times and maintain their focus and vigilance.

Soldiers are on the streets doing police duties because we have denigrated the police and left it prostrate. Even at that, the constitution empowers the military to come in and deal with some internal security problems whenever it is beyond the police in aid of civil authority and it is therefore legitimate. We easily recall the incidents of Odi in Bayelsa State and Zaki Ibiam in Benue State respectively, two very classical incidents where law enforcement agents and soldiers were brutally killed in cold blood.

The communities paid the price because you cannot separate the community that provides platform and cover for hooligans to attack the state from the brigands that carry out the atrocious act. This also makes the accusation of collective punishment to be blurred. Talking about radicalization of youths, we should not take that point too far because it also makes the state to become more repressive; not a justification though, but a state should be able to exert a prize and whip criminals into line.

Read Also: FEC approves fund to bridge $878bn national infrastructure deficit

The insecurity in the country is festering today partly because the state and its institutions have become too weak due to bad politics. To kill soldiers and go into hiding and expect the criminals and communities behind it should be pelted with ice cream and chocolate is to be asking the Commander-in-Chief to surrender his authority to non-state actors and gangsters. The military has been so weakened by all manners of negative campaigns on its operation from both local and international media and rights groups so much so that the commanders have even become not so sure-footed anymore on how to deal with the situations. The Nigerian Army is depicted by the effigy of an eagle, symbolizing strength, resilience and endurance. We must not allow hooligans to turn them to pigeons for super and allow anarchy reign. The killing, the attack or ambush in Okuama is one that should not have been contemplated let alone carried out and executed by those miscreants whether they represent their communities or not. Those brigands who carried out the attack were testing the waters. This was one attack too many and those miscreants should be hunted to the gate of hell.

This is the time to reclaim the entire space of the country from criminal elements operating audaciously across the geo-political zones. Communities should give vital intelligence to security agents to identify and isolate criminals in their midst and avoid collateral damage rather than provide cover to criminals as freedom fighters.

The military should also come clean and resist and avoid being used in settlement of communal land disputes or other commercial transactions between individuals; that is not their business. Communal crises should be settled through the instrumentalities of the law and nobody is permitted to take the laws into his hand. We should not allow disgruntled elements to bring disasters and calamity upon our communities and expect media campaign and propaganda to avert the consequence. The world opinion and media campaign have not changed the carnage and catastrophe in Gaza. Moving forward, the military should be guided in its operation by the rules of engagement, driven by good intelligence, and stay away from acts capable of exposing its personnel to unnecessary attack.

•Kebonkwu Esq is an Abuja-based lawyer.
March 26, 2024
Delta killings: Troops recover decomposing hearts of killed soldiers
- Intensify manhunt for killers
- Killing of military personnel national tragedy –Tuggar
- Fleeing indigenes: We’ve stayed six days without food
- Ex-militant leader Amagbein dissociates self from soldiers’ killing
The Defence Headquarters, in a chilling update yesterday on the recent killing of 18 Army officers and men in Okuama, Delta State, confirmed recovery of the decomposing hearts of some of the victims.

It said the hunt for the perpetrators was intensifying but no significant arrest had been made.

Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar called the killing of the soldiers a national tragedy while Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike branded it barbaric.

Niger Delta Development Minister, Abubakar Momoh, vowed that the killers would not go unpunished.

Residents of the community who have fled their homes for fear of reprisal are lamenting the horror of starvation and denial they have been going through since the incident.

An ex-Niger Delta militant leader, ‘General’ Endurance Amagbein, who was accused in some quarters as the brains behind the killings, yesterday vehemently denied the allegation.

He said he knew nothing whatsoever about the incident.

The Director Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, told reporters in Abuja that troops were currently conducting clearance operations and cordon and search to recover, among other things, the weapons of the deceased soldiers.

He said their efforts have yielded the recovery of the “decomposing hearts of some of the murdered soldiers.”

Earlier reports had indicated that the people responsible for the soldiers’ death also harvested their hearts and other body parts.

On the list of communities in which troops have already conducted operations are Akugbene, Ukuama and Okoloba in Ugheli and Ugheli South of Delta State as well as Ukuama Amusamo, Akwagbe, Arhavwarien, Pirigbene and Igbomatoro communities also in Delta State.

He said although no significant arrest had been made yet, the DHQ was not unaware of a viral video of a person “admitting to have perpetrated the killing of the soldiers in Delta State.”

He said one of the advantages of the video is that it “helps to narrow investigations to persons of interest and their cohorts.”

He said: “Accordingly, the state governments and host communities of these personalities are required to assist investigation in flushing them out.

“There can be no hiding place for perpetrators of such dastardly act against our nation. This is a clarion call to duty by members of those communities and the state governments.”

Besides the development in Okuama, Buba said troops across other theaters of operation during the week neutralised 106 alleged terrorists and arrested 103 other suspected criminals.

He said troops also arrested 22 oil thieves and rescued 96 kidnap victims.

Buba said troops recovered 171 assorted weapons comprising 47 AK47 rifles, one PKT gun, 18 pump action rifles, 17 locally fabricated guns, 14 Dane guns, 12 locally fabricated pistols, one fabricated revolver, one hand grenade, 81mm mortar bomb, one mortar tube and four bandoliers

He said troops also recovered 2,452 assorted ammunition, comprising 995 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 468 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 317 live cartridges, 125 rounds of 9mm ammo, 313 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 13 rounds of 7.62 x 51mm, 19 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm, 167 empty shells of 7.62mm special ammo, 45 empty shells of 7.62mm NATO, 72 empty cases of cartridges, 14 magazines.

Other items recovered, according to defence spokesperson, are 10 vehicles, 23 motorcycles, 19 mobile phones, one bicycle, four baofeng radios, and the sum of N112,920.00 amongst other items.

He said: “Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 51 dugout pits, 17 boats, 15 storage tanks and 4 vehicles. Other items recovered include 21 cooking ovens, 3 pumping machines and 40 illegal refining sites.

“Troops recovered 772,350 litres of stolen crude oil, 80,530 litres of illegally refined AGO and 1,500 litres of DPK.”

Buba said the troops would continue to put themselves in harm’s way in order to protect and secure the citizens of this country.

FG committed to bringingsolders’ killers to justice — Momoh

Niger Delta Development Minister Abubakar Momoh said yesterday that the federal government would not waver in its determination to bring the killers of the military personnel to justice.

Law enforcement agencies, according to him, have been mobilized to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.

Expressing “my deepest sympathies to the Nigerian Army and the families affected by the barbaric act”, Momoh said the incident “is a profound tragedy that has shaken us all to the core.”

He said: “To the families who have lost loved ones, I offer my sincerest condolences. Your sacrifice and your pain will never be forgotten, and our thoughts and prayers are with you during this incredibly difficult time.

“We stand with you in solidarity, sharing in your grief and offering our unwavering support.

“To the Nigerian Army, I extend my deepest gratitude for your unwavering dedication to protecting our nation. Your bravery and selflessness in the face of danger serve as an inspiration to us all.

“We mourn the loss of your comrades and vow to honor their memory by continuing to support and uplift our armed forces.”

Read Also: Military kills 106 terrorists, apprehends 103

He urged the warring communities of Okuama and Okoloba to exercise restraint and seek peaceful resolutions to their grievances.

According to him, “violence only begets more violence, and further bloodshed will only deepen the wounds already inflicted upon our communities.

“Let us come together in a spirit of unity and cooperation, working hand in hand to build a future free from conflict and strife.”

It’s barbaric, says Wike

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike was similarly inclined in his reaction to the killings.

Wike, who spoke during a visit to him by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, said: “It was the most barbaric act that has ever been seen. I don’t think any right-thinking person will ever support such a heinous crime. Not only that the people died, but the way they were killed. It was quite unfortunate.

“We as FCT we support the Nigerian military in whichever way we can to see what we can do to reduce the pains the families of these individuals go through. We are going to support you.”

The minister reiterated the readiness of the administration to build a high technology security rapid response center for security agencies in the territory to stem the tide of criminality.

Wike explained that the centre would be equipped with all forms of technologically driven security gadgets to enable security agencies to effectively fight crime and criminality in the nation’s capital.

In addition to the Rapid Response Centre, Wike promised to provide necessary operational logistics to all the security agencies, including procurement of drones.

He went further: “The budget of FCT has been passed by the National Assembly. We are just waiting for the accent of Mr President. We have concluded to buy drones so that it will help the security agencies in trying to reduce the level of crime.”

Earlier, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa said plans were underway for the formation of special standby security forces in the FCT to check insecurity in the territory.

He commended the FCT Minister for changing the narratives in the history of Abuja, and assured him that the Armed Forces were solidly behind him in his quest to ensure that Nigerians are protected.

Tuggar: It’s a national tragedy

Tuggar, during a similar visit by Musa, said the killing of the soldiers was a national tragedy.

He prayed for the repose of their souls and asked the Almighty Lord to grant their families the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

He ended the condolence message by imploring the relevant authorities to bring the perpetrators of the tragic act to justice.

The troops of the 181 Amphibious Battalion of the Nigerian Army were on a peaceful and mediatory mission after a reported communal clash between the Okuama and Okoloba Communities in Ughelli South and Bomadi LGAs of Delta State.

Ex-militant leader Amagbein dissociates self from killings

Ex-Niger Delta militant leader, ‘General’ Endurance Amagbein, told reporter in his country home in Igbomotoru, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State yesterday that he had no connection whatsoever with the killings.

He described the incident as barbaric, an invitation to anarchy and a sad and ugly commentary on the history of the Niger Delta.

He said no responsible government and well-meaning citizens would condone such a brazen affront on the military.

On allegations that he was the brains behind the killings, he said: “I have been accused of crime I know nothing about. I am a repentant militant and have left bunkering.

“I do not operate any Kpofire site in Delta State and the entire Niger Delta, and I wonder why people are saying that it was my foot soldiers from my Kpofire sites in Delta State that murdered the soldiers.

“My trouble started when I supported the PDP candidate, Governor Douye Diri in the last Bayelsa State governorship election.

“Those accusing me are from the main opposition party in the state who felt I worked against their electoral victory.

“The election in my hometown was peaceful, devoid of any form of intimidation.”

Amagbein called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the military to set up an independent investigation panel to probe the immediate and remote causes of the conflict that led to the mindless killing of the soldiers and bring to book those found culpable.

He emphasised that the rational thing for the military to do is to follow the rules of engagement, working with community leaders to go after the criminals and stop subjecting innocent people to unimaginable torture and avoid the Odi massacre as pictorial and video evidence circulating on the social media point to that direction.

He advised the military to observe rules of engagement in line with international best practices and avoid collateral damage to innocent citizens.

He enjoined community leaders not to allow outlaws to live in their communities but hand them over to law enforcement agents for necessary action, and advised everyone to be peaceful and law abiding in order to avoid future ugly incidents of this magnitude.

Amagbein advised his numerous supporters to remain calm in the face of the ongoing onslaught on innocent people by the soldiers in pursuit of the criminals and expressed deep condolences to families whose loved ones have been killed as a result of the military invasion.
March 23, 2024
IYC vows to help military fish out killers of soldiers

The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide has pledged to work with the military in its ongoing efforts to arrest persons behind the gruesome killings of 16 soldiers in Okuama community, Delta State.
The Dr. Alaye Theophilus-led IYC said it had set up an investigative and fact-finding team to support the military and other security agencies unearth the root cause of the incident.
Theophilus, who spoke in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, appealed to the military to remain professional and maintain the rules of engagement applicable in other parts of the world in apprehending persons behind the dastardly act.
He urged the military to stop attacking communities in the region but focus its strength in isolating and dealing with the culprits.
Theophilus said: “As the largest ethnic block in the Niger Delta region, we are concerned about the stability and business friendly environment of the oil rich region, and as such whatever that happens in any part of the region is of a serious concern to us.

Read Also: 157 soldiers set for deployment on peacekeeping in Sudan

“It is on this note that we have also set up an investigation and fact-finding team which is open to supporting the military and other security agencies to get to the root cause of the matter, and possibly bring the killers to face the law.
“While we appreciate the military for their efforts and sacrifices in safe guiding the lives and properties of our people, our communities and the nation at large, we pray God to protect them.
“We also appeal that the military should remain professional and maintain their rule of engagement as they apply in other parts of the country in fighting criminals. We plead that when moving to fish out the killers that the whole community should not be destroyed because of the action of few individuals.
“As a people, what we have experienced over time is that, when an individual does something bad to military men operating in our region, reprisal from the military is always against the entire community.
“At different occurrences, communities where such happens individual that is having problem with the military is always destroyed, houses burn down, innocent youths killed and valuables destroyed. It is condemnable.
“These are actions that even in conflict situation is unacceptable and condemnable. Hence, it is our collective appeal that when dealing with our communities, the military should be more professional.
“As we speak, the fears of our people have shown up again as the said Okuama Community has been completely burnt down and all the occupants made homeless, and are now refugees in neighbouring communities”.
Theophilus regretted that the military had already invaded Ignomotoru 2, opened fire on innocent men, woman and children and reportedly killed innocent people.
He said: “Houses have been burnt down and till date the military personnel have not told us what the people of Igbomotoru 2 did against them. They have not informed us if there was breakdown of law and order, or if there are criminal elements in the community disturbing their operations.
“What is happening in this community is purely a humanitarian crisis. As we speak, they have held every member of the community hostage as there is no entry or exist to the community. People are now starving to death.
“We want to call on the Nigerian military to please act with all form of professionalism and responsibility. They should fish out the culprits in the killing and them to book. They should as well thoroughly investigate the root cause of the matter and do not leave any stone unturned.
“We are also calling on Mr. President, to please come to the aide of the people of Igbomotoru 2 community as the people are dying of starvation due to the unnecessary invasion and the maltreatment being meted on them by the military”.

March 21, 2024
Killing of soldiers: Johnbull condoles Nigerian Army, hails act of patriotism

The President’s Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement (South-South), Honorable Gift Johnbull, expresses condolences over the death of the soldiers who were killed during a peace mission in Okuama Community, Delta State.

The incident, which happened on Thursday, March 14, saw security personnel ambushed while responding to a crisis between Okuama and Okoloba communities.

The attack resulted in the loss of a commanding officer, two Majors, one Captain, twelve soldiers, and one civilian.

In a heartfelt message, Gift Johnbull extended her profound condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers, their colleagues, and loved ones.

Read Also: PANDEF condemns killing of military personnel in Delta

She hailed the heroism, courage, and uncommon patriotism displayed by the servicemen and women in the line of duty.

She said: “I extend my profound condolences to the families of those fallen soldiers, their colleagues, and their loved ones.

“I salute the heroism, courage, and uncommon patriotism of our service men and women in the line of duty.

“The Renewed Hope government condemns in totality these evil acts and has granted full authority to the Defense Headquarters to bring justice to anyone found to have been responsible for this crime against the south-south community and in entirety the Nigerian people.

“Our people are unique in diversity sharing fraternity over the years as the seas, lands, and resources bear us witness paving the way for a rich heritage for our people but we can only achieve a great future in oneness. Mr President’s community engagement agenda can only have maximum impacts if we live peaceably in love and oneness.

“May God grant peace and pardon to all lost souls in this crisis and restore calmness to all communities in the zone.”

March 18, 2024
Killings of soldiers: Group condemns attack, calls for independent investigation
- From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Ughelli
The Urhobo Media Practitioners Advocacy Group (UMPAG) has condemned in its entirety the alleged gruesome killings of soldiers and the act of razing down of Okuama community of Ughelli South local government area of Delta state.

UMPAG, the college of Urhobo media practitioners worldwide said it received with rude shock the murder of over 14 military personnel, including the commanding officer of 181 Amphibious Batallion, two Majors and a Captain by unidentified gunmen around the bank of Okuama community in Ewu Kingdom.

In a statement released by the group’s secretary, Onojeghen Theophilus Okpare and Executive Member, Shedrack Onitsha, stated that as a body of trained media workers, they condemned in its entirety, the killing of the military personnel and some indigenes of Okuama community.

The group said that from information available to them, there is a grand conspiracy to twist the facts of the bizarre incident to paint one party as savages and adjudge another as saints.

The group’s statement which reads in parts said: “From our findings, the incident is coming on the heels of the renewed crisis over a land dispute between Okuama community in Ughelli South and Okoloba community in Bomadi Local Government Areas of the state.

“The Urhobos of Okuama community in Ewu Kingdom have lived peacefully with their Okoloba neighbours for ages. Both communities have robust inter-marriages and can even speak both Urhobo and Ijaw languages fluently.

“We have also been informed that leading from the killings of the personnel, Okuama community has been completely razed down by angry soldiers. The situation has sacked peace and law abiding citizens of Okuama community, especially when it has not been established that Okuama youths were responsible for this gruesome killing of the military men.

“While we commiserate with the Nigerian military, the federal government and the Delta state government on the unwarranted killing of these personnel, we join other Nigerians to demand for an independent investigation and arrest of the culprits.

“To this end, we call on the Delta State Government and the Nigerian Army to urgently constitute a joint panel of enquiry to unravel the cause and what led to the killing of the soldiers on the said peace mission to Okuama and Okoloba communities.

Read Also: Economy: Subsidy beneficiaries, smugglers fighting back, says Tinubu

“Falling from information available to us, we demand that the panel probe the following areas: A. What was the true mission of the soldiers to Okuama and Okoloba communities?

“B Was the Ovie (King) of Ewu Kingdom and her subjects informed of the military visit on the peace mission? C. Was the Executive Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, informed of the peace mission?

“D. Why did the situation report come from DPO Bomadi, and not DPO, Jeremi?

E. Why would the military, stationed in Bomadi, embark on a “PEACE” mission to Okuama in Ughelli South, without the involvement of DPO Jeremi, and local government officials?

“F. Why was the military “PEACE” mission escorted by Ijaw youths? G. How come, that civilian members of the “PEACE” mission survived to tell the story, yet no military man survived?

“H. If the King, PG, DPO Jeremi, LG officials were not involved, who were those to sign the peace accord? I. Why did the situation report come from DPO Bomadi, and not DPO, Jeremi?

“J. Where did the community source such sophisticated weapons to wage such war against the military men?

K. Why were the police, DSS and other sister security agencies not involved in the military peace mission to Okuama?

“L. Why was the military peace mission only for the Okuama community? M. From the reports, the bodies of the slain military personnel were recovered from the Forcados River. Who dumped the bodies in the River?

It also added: “N. Are we not sure that warlords from neighbouring areas were responsible for the attack on soldiers? O. Was Okuama and Okoloba at war for 16 soldiers to be gruesomely killed in less than 24hrs?

“P. Who were the civilians that took the military to Okuama as quoted in the report by Sunday Bomadi Chancel who had earlier claimed that over 22 soldiers were killed? Who were the Ijaw civilians who accompanied the soldiers to Okuama? How come they survived while the soldiers were killed? And Q. There are many mindboggling questions to be asked on the incident.

“From the forgoing, we call on the Executive Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori and the Nigerian military to thoroughly investigate the attack on the soldiers and the people of Okuama community.

“As media professionals, we are mediators and peace advocates; we therefore call on our people in Okuama community and our Ijaw brothers in Okoloba community to maintain the existing peace, while the Government and the military get to the root of these tragedy.

“We use this medium to call on the military to refrain from assaulting peace and law-abiding citizens of the area in face of the recent development. We also urge parties involved in the communal crisis to refrain from making unguarded statements so as not to fuel the crisis.”
March 17, 2024
Tension in Delta over killing of four officers, 18 soldiers
- Army taskforce recovers 14 mutilated bodies from river
- Lt. Colonel, two Majors, Captain among victims
- DHQ condemns killings, demands arrest of culprits
Okuoma, an Ijaw community in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, has turned into a ghost town in the aftermath of the killing of 22 soldiers dispatched to the area on a peace mission.

Residents, especially young men, are understood to have fled for fear of reprisal over the killing of the soldiers, five of whom were officers: a lieutenant-colonel who was the commanding officer, two majors and one captain.

The Defence Headquarters confirmed the killings yesterday, with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General C.G. Musa, ordering the immediate arrest and investigation of all those involved.

Similarly seized by tension on account of the killing are neighbouring towns in Urhobo and Ijaw communities in Ughelli South and Bomadi local government areas of the state.

Residents of the neighbouring communities said military aircraft were hovering over them, ostensibly on reconnaissance missions. This sparked fear that military invasions and operations in the area were imminent.

The soldiers were allegedly ambushed and murdered by youths on Thursday when the troops went to quell violence between the people of Okuoma and Okoloba.

Although no group has claimed responsibility for the dastardly attack, militias were suspected of masterminding the attack on the troops of the 181 Amphibious Battalion of the Army.

Various sources said the soldiers went to Okuoma to secure the release of one Mr Anthony Aboh, an indigene of Okoloba, who was abducted over the lingering land dispute between the two communities.

The military men were reportedly caught in an ambush on their way back to their base after their meeting with leaders of Okuoma community ended in a deadlock.

A source said: “We were coming back to our boats after the unfruitful discussion to release the kidnapped victim of Okoloba community.

“Suddenly, there were rains of bullets coming from all directions and some of us managed to escape.

“Many people were killed during the ambush, including a former honourable member from Okoloba community, who reported the matter to the JTF. But the commander and other officers were held hostage and taken to an unknown destination towards the creek opposite the community.”

Sources said the lifeless body of the kidnapped Anthony Aboh had been recovered floating on River Forcados.

One of the sources in Okoloba said: “We found the lifeless body of Mr Anthony Aboh floating on River Forcados near Ayakoromo community, and like other victims, he was blindfolded with his hands tied behind his back.”

Efforts to get comments from Okuoma community were unsuccessful.

DHQ confirms killings as CDS orders investigation

Confirming the development in a statement yesterday, the acting Director, Defence Information, Brigadier Gen. Tukur Gusau, said the Delta State Government had been briefed about the situation.

He said: “The troops of 181 Amphibious Batallion, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, while on a peace mission to Okuoma community in Bomadi LGA of Delta State were surrounded by some community youths and killed on Thursday, March 14, 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 deaths 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 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 are being taken to unravel the motive behind the attack.”

Army task force recovers 14 bodies

Channels TV reported last night that 14 bodies of the victims had been recovered by a joint task force led by the General Officer Commanding 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam.

The corpses were recovered from the rivers of Okuoma where they floated.

Read Also: Economy: Subsidy beneficiaries, smugglers fighting back, says Tinubu

Some of them were allegedly mutilated.

Delta Senator Dafinone calls for calm, urges probe of incident

Reacting to the situation, the senator representing Delta Central, Ede Dafinone, asked those involved in the crisis to sheathe their swords.

He also advised the Federal and Delta State Governments to urgently intervene.

He described the situation as unfortunate and unnecessary.

He appealed to the army to “act discreetly in this situation, that they should not allow their emotions to take the better part of their professional judgment by toning down their operations and observe the rules of engagement while dealing with civilians at Okuoma.”

He told the residents of the affected areas to “shun any act of violence that could further escalate this crisis, which could have been avoided if both parties had allowed reason to prevail.

“The National Emergency Management Agency should also reach out and provide relief materials to the people of Okuama, many of whom have been rendered homeless.”

AANI condemns killing of officers, soldiers

The Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI) of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos, Plateau State, yesterday condemned the killing of four officers and 12 soldiers by some youths in Delta State.

The military officers and soldiers of the 181 Amphibious Battalion, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, were killed by youths while on peace mission in Okuama and Okoloba communities both in Delta State.

National President of AANI, Amb. Emmanuel Obi Okafor, made the condemnation in a statement yesterday.

He described the killing of the military personnel as “an unforgivable affront to our nation’s values.”

“The AANI stands in solidarity with our military and the families of these heroes who paid the supreme price in quest for peace in Delta State.

“Consequently, this despicable act of barbarism must not be swept under the rug. We demand swift and decisive action from both the Federal and Delta State governments.

“The perpetrators, including the community leaders, must face the full force of the law. No one who dares to spill the blood of our defenders and attacks Nigeria should escape justice.

“The perpetrators must face swift justice, with no leniency shown to those who dare to spill the blood of our beloved soldiers, for whatever reason.”

According to Amb. Okafor, the “cowardly attack” not only dampens our spirits but also threatens future peace efforts as it strikes at the heart of our nation’s resolve for peace.

He urged government to take decisive measures to prevent such atrocities from reoccurring.

“The culprits, especially the youths involved, must be swiftly brought to justice. The traditional rulers overseeing this tragedy must face consequences for their negligence,” he said.

Amb. Okafor commended the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, “for his prompt response, directing an immediate investigation.

“We therefore urge the authorities to expedite the process and ensure all involved face the full force of the law.”
March 17, 2024
Dafinone calls for calm over killing of soldiers, young men in Okuama crisis

Senator Ede Dafinone (Delta Central) has called on those involved in the ongoing carnage at Okuama Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area to sheath their swords for the sake of humanity.

He also called on the State and Federal Government to urgently intervene to de-escalate the criss which according to available reports has allegedly claimed more than 18 lives including that of soldiers.

The leadership of Okuama Community had raised the alarm of alleged military invasion on Thursday following a land dispute with neighboring community of Okoloba in Bomadi local government area which led to the death of three young men, with women and children displaced as well as many building razed.

The Nigerian army in a statement by Acting Director, Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, alleged that Commanding officer, two Majors, one Captain and 12 soldiers, who went on a peace mission were killed by Okuama people

Senator Dafinone, while reacting to the report on the death of the soldiers, three Okuama youths and the alleged burning down of property in Okuama community, described the incident as very unfortunate.

While sympathizing with the military authorities over the loss of their men, he called on them to observe the military rules of engagement while dealing with civilians.

He also called on the leaders and residents of Okuama to remain calm, urging the Federal and State governmenit to expedite action to arrest the ugly situation from degenerating into another humanitarian crisis.

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According to Dafinone,: “I want to appeal for calm by the waring factions in the unfortunate incident that occurred in Okuama Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State on Thursday and Friday leading to the needless death of about 18 persons including soldiers.

“The federal government must as a matter of urgency set up a high power independent panel to investigate the remote causes of this crisis, in order to bring whoever that may be involved in the killing of Nigerian civilians and soldiers to be brought to book.

“I wish to appeal to the authority of the Nigerian army to act discreetly in this situation , that they should not allow their emotions take better part of their professional judgement by toning down their operations and observed the rules of engagement while dealing with civilians at Okuama.

“I also wish to call on our people in Okuama to shun any act of violence that could further escalate this crisis, which could have been avoided if both parties allowed reason to prevail.

“The National Emergency Management Agency, should also reach out and provide relief materials to the people of Okuama, many of whom have been rendered homeless and are now living in surrounding bushes.”

March 16, 2024
Two shot, dozens wounded as soldiers invade Warri community
- •Olu of Warri’s visit sparks fracas
NO fewer than two persons were shot at Okere Community in Warri Metropolis of Delta State yesterday following an invasion by some security operatives.

The security operatives are believed to be soldiers from the 3 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, Effurun Barrack of the state.

The first victim was identified as Macaulay Uku while the second was identified simply as Eguono. They were shot between midday and late afternoon during the visit to the area by the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III.

Uku, according to various sources, was shot early in the afternoon while Eguono was shot hours later.

The Commanding Officer of the Battalion, Major A. Ohegbe, who was contacted by our reporter, said he was not aware of any shooting, but confirmed the heavy presence of security personnel during the visit.

He hinted that the fracas was sparked by resistance to the monarch’s visit by a section of the people of Okere community, which is the home of Chief Ayiri Emami.

Our reporter recalled that a section of the Okere community sided with Chief Ayiri Emami, the Ologbotsere of Warri, whose purported removal is the subject of an ongoing litigation.

“Those who are loyal to the Ayiri essentially are opposed to the monarch, and this has resulted in the polarisation of Okere,” a source in the area said.

Supporters of the monarch however said that there is no opposition to the monarch in Okere, stressing, “He is the Olu of all Itsekiri people”.

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Our source further added that the people of the area were incensed by an attempt by the monarch to sprinkle anointing oil at the sacred groun d of the Okere shrine.

It was gathered that two of the victims of Saturday’s shooting were those loyal to Chief Emami, and this led to insinuation that the soldiers were brought in by supporters of the monarch to suppress the people opposed to his visit.

Meanwhile, tension has gripped the community as supporters of both sides trade words both on social media and on the streets about the next line of action.
March 3, 2024
Soldiers brutalise lorry drivers in trade dispute with monarch
- Victims hospitalised in critical conditions
- Monarch: Why I invited soldiers to deal with them
The brutal beating of tipper drivers by soldiers attached to the 192 Battalion of the Nigeria Army, Owode, Yewa South Local Government of Ogun State, allegedly at the instance of the Alashe of Ilashe, Oba John Olaifa, following an industrial action embarked upon by the drivers at the sand mining site belonging to the monarch, has sparked an outrage, reports KUNLE AKINRINADE.

Thursday, February 22 was a bad day for tipper drivers conveying sand from a site in Oloparun area of Owode, Yewa South Local Government Area, Ogun State. Some members of the Ajowa Tipper Lorry Owners and Drivers Association of Nigeria (ATLODAN), who had boycotted work following alleged arbitrary increase in the price of sand belonging to the Alashe of Ilashe, Ipokia Local Government Area, Oba John Olaifa, were seized by soldiers from 192 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, stripped and beaten mercilessly at the instance of the monarch.

The lifting fee for a lorry-load of sharp sand was N22,000 until the evening of Wednesday, February 21 when Oba Olaifa jerked up the amount payable to N29,000 without any prior notification. Irked by the development, the tipper drivers, who had collected the old rate from customers because they did not anticipate the new rate, decided to boycott work.

But while they were still holding a meeting on the matter, they got wind that some lorry drivers from a neighbouring location were at the site to lift sand, and they decided to appeal to the lorry drivers for solidarity. Their call for solidarity was said to have angered the monarch who invited soldiers to the scene and arrested the protesting drivers.

The arrival of soldiers at the scene spelt doom for the protesting lorry drivers as four of them were swiftly whisked away by the soldiers from the 190 Battalion, Owode, who took the hapless drivers to their barracks and subjected them to hours of merciless beating. By the time the tipper drivers were let off, they had developed swollen faces, dislocated arms and bloody wounds that landed them in various hospitals.

Sharing his heartrending story, one of the victims, Mustapha Taofeek Ajani, said the soldiers stormed their association’s base in commando style and whisked them away to their barrack where they were subjected to rounds of torture.

He said: “I was flogged by the soldiers with sticks and belts. The soldiers were nine in number when they stormed our work base in a Toyota Hilux patrol van with Oba John Olaifa, the Alashe of Ilashe, who rode behind them in a Toyota Corolla car.

“They arrived while we were discussing with some of our colleagues from Atan, a neighbouring community, and started shouting; ‘Wey dem, wey dem (where are they, where are they?)’

“Before we knew it, they started beating us and took four of us from the scene to their barracks at Owode where, in the presence of the monarch, they flogged us mercilessly with sticks and belts and also marched on us with their boots. They beat us for more than two hours before they released us.

”My arms were dislocated in the process and my back was left with marks of the whipping they gave me during the brutality, just because we had a disagreement with the monarch who owns the sand mining site where we work.”

Explaining further, 34-year-old Ajani said: “It happened that on Wednesday, February 21, we loaded sand for our customers for N22,000. But by dusk, Oba Olaifa changed the price to N29,000.

“Then on Thursday, February 22, Oba Olaifa brought some of our colleagues from Atan to load sand because we had boycotted work on the grounds that we could not accept the overnight price increase after we had collected N22,000 from our customers.

“When we sighted some of our colleagues from Atan loading sand from the site, we accosted them and explained to them that they were supposed to solidarise with us because the price was jerked up overnight.

“We asked that they drop the sand they had loaded and wait till 6 pm before they would be allowed to leave our base, and they agreed.

“We all sat down and started sharing drinks when Oba Olaifa came with soldiers from the 190 Brigade, Owode, and ordered that we should be dealt with for boycotting work and even solicited solidarity from our colleagues who came to the site to buy sand from him.

“We have been working at the site for more than four years now, so we did not deserve the kind of brutal treatment that was meted out to us by the soldiers at the instance of Oba Olaifa.”

Another victim, Idupe Oluwagbenga, 33, said: “In the night of Wednesday, February 21, Oba Olaifa increased the price of a lorry load of sand at his site from N22,000 to N29,000. We disagreed with the price and decided to boycott work.

“The next day, we noticed that some tipper drivers from Atan near Ota were at the site to load sand at N29,000. We accosted the drivers and explained the situation, asking for solidarity.

“After listening to us, they agreed to jettison further transactions and drop the sand till evening before they would leave. We then bought drinks and shared with our colleagues from Atan.

“But the situation angered Oba Olaifa, who came to the scene and left only to return again with soldiers numbering nine. The soldiers stormed our base in the Hilux vehicle and started beating our members.

“The monarch then instructed the soldiers to arrest us, and four of us were pushed into their vehicle and taken to their barracks at Owode where we were further flogged with sticks and belts and kicked with military jackboots in the presence of the monarch, who told them to brutalise us into submission.

“The brutality lasted three hours after which the soldiers pushed us out of their barracks and we landed in hospitals. So far, I have spent about N80,000 on treatment.

“You can see marks of brutality on my face. My face was battered by the soldiers just because of a minor trade dispute with Oba Olaifa.

“They (Oba Olaifa and the soldiers) believed we had no one to fight for us, hence they treated us so badly.

“Please save us from this brutality and don’t let these people go scot free ” Another victim, Kazeem Ismaila a.k.a. Kobo, said: “The soldiers marched on my face and brutally flogged me.

“They had burst into us while were discussing and playing with our colleagues on the way forward.

“Oba Olaifa brought the soldiers and even followed us to the barracks at Owode where the soldiers further beat us with sticks and belts and marched on us with their boots.

“Oba Olaifa stood and watched as the soldiers subjected us to horrific brutality and only released us after about three hours of merciless beating.”

Speaking with our reporter, the chairman of the Ajowa Tipper Lorry Owners and Drivers Association of Nigeria (ATLODAN), Alhaji Shakiru Abolore, said: “We started working at the mining site since 2001 until Oba Olaifa took over from our Hausa operators about four years ago.

“We started from N6000 before he increased the price to N11,000 and later to N18,000.

“It was just last November that he increased the price to N22,000, and barely three months later penultimate Wednesday, he arbitrarily raised it to N29,000 hence we rejected the new price.

“Our customers turned us down because of the new price and it was difficult to get patronage. That was why we agreed to boycott his site.

“We decided to approach other tipper drivers for solidarity when we noticed that our colleagues from other parts of the state were at the site to buy sand.

“We did not harass anybody; we were simply seeking their cooperation to shun the new price slammed on us by Oba Olaifa when the monarch led soldiers to attack and brutalise our members.

“He brazenly took them in their patrol vehicle to Owode Barracks where they were tortured and dehumanised.”

Responding via a telephone conversation with our reporter on Thursday, Oba Olaifa simply said the matter had been resolved.

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He said he was initially angry that the drivers were picketing and discouraging their colleagues from working, hence his decision to invite soldiers to the scene to contain the situation.

He said the leadership of the drivers’ association had pleaded for forgiveness and concession to return to work a few days ago.

The monarch explained further that the drivers have since resumed work at the site after the matter was settled.

He said: “Those involved have come to beg me and we have resolved the matter. The drivers disagreed with the new price regime and we have settled the dispute and they have resumed work today (Thursday).

“We have held several meetings since the incident. Even those who were brutalised and their leaders have come here for settlement and normalcy has returned.

“We are buying some of our materials at higher rates now and we already agreed on the new price before they suddenly disagreed and were disturbing other drivers who were at the site to patronise us.

“While the drivers were going away after loading my sand, the Ajowa drivers intercepted them and poured my sand on the road.

“I even wanted to talk to them through my driver but they rebuffed him and asked me to come over.

“When I got there, they pelted me with stones and it was at that point that soldiers were invited to contain the situation.

“They are all my people and we have been together for more than four years now.

“But I can tell you that the matter has been resolved and the drivers have returned to work.”

Efforts made by the reporter to speak with Lt Colonel Olabisi Ayeni, the spokesperson for the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, under which the 190 Battalion, Owode is attached, had yielded no result at press time.

The call our reporter made to Ayeni on his cell phone went unanswered.

He also did not return an inquiry sent as a message to his WhatsApp wall.
March 2, 2024
Raise soldiers’ pay
- A recruit earning N50,000 cannot in all loyalty receive bullets with his chest
- By Tunj Adegboyega
I have not been myself since the video of a Nigerian soldier who claimed that he earns a paltry N50,000 per month went viral. According to the soldier, he had been fighting in the bush (war front) for a year and the military authorities gave him some time to visit his family. On getting to the motor park, he said he discovered that his transport fare back home to his family was N35,000. The soldier didn’t tell us where he wanted to take off from or where he was going. That is even beside the point.

Anyway, the poor soldier quickly put two plus two together and realised that he needed a minimum of N70,000 for transportation to and back from home. That was way high than the miserable N50,000 monthly salary that he says he earns!

I don’t think there ever would be any rebuttal by the military authorities, especially against the backdrop of the disclosure, about three weeks ago, by the Senate Majority Chief Whip, Sen. Ali Ndume, that our recruits earn less than N50,000 monthly.

No doubt salaries are generally poor in Nigeria. But I cannot believe that Nigeria would push forward a man that it is paying N50,000 in this economy to go receive bullets with his chest.

One of the things that crossed my mind when I saw the video was the usual prayer by one of the evangelists in my church, that no one would want to take a sick horse to the war front. For Nigeria to be paying any soldier that it has pushed to the kind of multidimensional war front that we are facing a paltry N50,000, is worse than taking a sick horse to the war front. Indeed, with this situation in the military, we do not have to look far for why we have not been able to wrestle banditry and terrorism to their knees in the last decade plus. If any of our soldiers facing such brutal enemies is paid N50,000, then, we should know the insurgency is not designed to end anytime soon.

Some people have said if truly the soldier is really a member of the Nigerian Armed Forces, that he would be cooling his heels in one guard room or the other for breaking the rule that our soldiers must not air their grievances on the social media. I must confess I am not a fan of that aspect of the media but I still manage to get some information from there, even if I must add that, often, I take much of the information I get there with a pinch of salt until I get confirmation from the more credible mainstream media.

With a distressing revelation like this, the military authorities should kickstart a process to review our soldiers’ condition of service. I would have accused past military leaders of insensitivity and bad faith over this matter. But then, N50,000 may have been adequate by the time they came up with the idea. Fact is; it is no more. It is left for today’s army authorities to do something about the situation. The solution is not in locking up the person who made it public, ostensibly for breaking a military rule. I guess the soldier in the viral video is very much aware of this rule. If he is indeed a true soldier, he must have told himself, just as Queen Esther in the Bible: “if I perish, I perish”. “But I just must render this patriot service before perishing”. Things must have got to a head for someone to take this kind of plunge.

What I am saying is that the long-term solution is in bettering the lot of the officers and men. That is the only way Nigeria and those of us who are not profiting from insurgency can be sleeping with our two eyes closed. The fact of the matter is that there is no way such a piece of information can get through to the appropriate quarters if passed through the official channel in the military. Somebody, somewhere would kill it either due to fear or whatever. And even if the message was passed upstairs, it most often would be for the wrong reason: probably to expose the bearer of the message as a disloyal soldier who is going to be an irritant and pollutant to others if not appropriately disciplined. Either way, he still would have been court-martialled. As a matter of fact, such punishment should belong in the colonial era. While I agree that soldiers should not run their mouths anyhow in the media, mainstream or social, there are occasions when the message and not the medium or messenger, should be the issue. I am not saying the military authorities should roll out the drums to celebrate his courage and candour. Merely doing the needful would be enough.

Come to think of it; how does a man who saw his family — wife, children and all — last about a year ago return to them empty-handed? Sensing that he would have to borrow money to return to the war front, the man simply put two plus two together to get four; he returned to “the bush”. The war front. Where would he get the money to buy ‘baba, kaabo, omo kuule’ (popcorn or even biscuits or chinchin) for the children? Let’s even assume that the wife would be satisfied seeing her husband alive again, how about the other relatives– mother, father, siblings, etc. who would also have come to welcome him back home?

When we see soldiers from other countries that are ready to die in battle, I mean soldiers who are ready to receive bullets with their chests, (one of our early generals we are told received bullets with his buttocks, implying that he was probably running away from the war front when the bullet hit him from behind!) it is because they know some things have been settled and that even if they die in battle, they can really rest in peace because their wives and children and other dependants would not suffer simply because they are no more

About three weeks ago, this paper wrote an editorial on the plight of children of military men who died in service but who would no longer be eligible for military scholarship if they could not secure admission to higher institution before or by age 18. Even for those of the officers in service, is it all their children who make it to the higher institutions before or at that age? This is despite the fatherly presence and all its advantages. How do we expect a widow (who is now single-handedly carrying the load of two people, and with the kind of pay that we are now being told is what obtains in the military), to be able to meet such criterion?

These issues must interest us all as Nigerians. Some of these information cannot be left to the military alone because what obtains cannot be the right mindset that would lead us anywhere. A battle that should normally take us a short time will end up becoming like the Israelites’ journey when things like this are what our soldiers go through.

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Today’s military leaders must set up committees to review some of these things with a view to correcting them. This country does not have to keep wasting money to prosecute short wars interminably. And please, let no one tell me there is no money. If there is no money, we wouldn’t have seen some generals literally swimming in billions. And that is for those we can see. What of the ones yet to be unearthed? What of all the known stealing in billions in high.places? Again, our lawmakers and others can also shed weight instead of adding more.

The truth of the matter is that the military is just a microcosm of the larger Nigerian society where public servants, including clerks, steal billions because there is so much excess money that should have been spent to pay workers well, but since we cannot use such money for the general good, the devil has been laying it in the hearts of the rats and snakes in the public service to swallow the excess cash.

Nigeria has so many developmental needs than keep pumping money on weapons of war and rebuilding places devastated by self-inflicted insurgency over and again.

We should not forget that the best of weapons in the hands of demoralised officers are not likely to achieve optimum results.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must be interested in this matter. The other time the wives of our fallen heroes appealed to his wife, Oluremi, to intervene in the matter of their children in the scholarship conundrum and sundry matters. They know she doesn’t have the powers to directly solve their problems but she has sufficient woman power to make her husband look in their direction. And that counts for a lot.

President Tinubu should be interested in this matter not only as president but also as commander-in-chief. His desire for a trillion dollar economy cannot come to pass if all we keep doing is spending a fortune on weapons of war in the midst of an acute infrastructural deficit.

In law, there is the rule of ‘estoppel per rem judicatam’: there must be an end to litigation. Even in the church, there are occasions when we tell God we are tired of fighting spiritual battles all the time. That we need a break from these battles. Where necessary we even place a curse on people who seemed to have vowed never to allow us (Christians) rest by perpetually tormenting us.

In the same vein I dare say there must be an end to insurgency. But Nigeria must address welfare issues in the military if ever we would rest. Solution does not lie in procuring sophisticated weapons alone. It also does not lie in punishing soldiers who voice out their frustration. Such catharsis is better released than kept repressed in the stomachs of largely disgruntled soldiers. West Africa has more than enough dissatisfied soldiers in its hands. We cannot afford to add Nigeria to the list. This is a good reason for the president to be interested in this matter.

We must address the human factor in the military. Indeed, this should be the next commandment.
February 11, 2024