The Nigerian Army said on Monday that the Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, where military personnel were killed, had started spreading untrue information.
The army rejected any form of revenge on the community, while The PUNCH found out that around 20 suspects have been taken into custody.
Also on Monday, the Defence headquarters released the names of the Army personnel who were killed on Thursday, during a peace mission to Okuama.
The military criticized the community and emphasized that no amount of untrue information would stop those responsible from being caught, while the Defence Headquarters promised there would be severe consequences.
A leader from the community, who spoke to our reporters anonymously due to fear of harassment, accused the military of making large-scale arrests and killings.
He cautioned that the soldiers' actions could lead to a repeat of the Odi incident.
In 1999, the Army attacked Odi town in Bayelsa State after some soldiers were killed in the community.
The community leader accused the military of targeting innocent civilians in the community instead of going after the troublemakers who committed the crime.
He said, “If it involves large-scale arrests, nobody will complain, but there are currently large-scale killings in the community. The situation where soldiers enter a community and start shooting is terrible.
“The same thing that happened in Odi is happening in Okuama today. When people take laws into their own hands because of the mischief of a few, it becomes a problem. When troublemakers go to an area and cause chaos, and the military responds by wiping out an entire community, that is a bad sign.”
There were also reports on Monday that soldiers deployed in Okuama started burning houses as residents fled the community.
At least 17 military personnel were killed by angry young people during a communal clash over a land dispute in Bomadi and Okuoma communities in Delta State on Thursday.
The personnel from the 181 Amphibious Battalion were reacting to a distress call when they were ambushed and killed on Thursday.
Many residents of Okuama in Ughelli South Local Government Area and Okolaba in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State ran away from the communities on Friday as soldiers took control and reportedly set some houses on fire in response to the killing of 16 soldiers, including senior officers.
It was reported late on Saturday that the bodies of the soldiers were recovered by soldiers of the Joint Task Force under the supervision of the General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, at the Okuama community.
Army criticizes community
But in a statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, the Army expressed regret that instead of helping to apprehend the perpetrators of the crime, the community was spreading untrue information.
Onyema stated that resorting to untrue information indicated that the killing of troops was a “communally orchestrated attack against legitimate forces.”
The statement said that the killing of soldiers from 181 Amphibious Battalion of the Nigerian Army, while trying to make peace after a reported communal clash between Okuama and Okoloba communities in Ughelli South and Bomadi LGAs of Delta State, is not only terrible but should be strongly condemned by everyone.
The soldiers were dedicated to maintaining peace and security in the Niger Delta Region, but were brutally murdered by an armed youth gang of Okuama Community, and their bodies were treated with disrespect by having their hearts ripped out by the same people they were supposed to protect.
The community involved in this terrible act has chosen to use media propaganda instead of making a genuine effort to find the perpetrators of this awful crime. This shows that the murder of the soldiers was a planned attack by the community against the legitimate forces.
Onyema mentioned that no amount of lies will stop those responsible for the soldiers' killing from being punished.
However, he encouraged law-abiding citizens to carry on with their activities without fear, and assured that there would be no revenge attack in the community.
He said that the lies being spread by the criminals and their cohorts to cover up or support the criminal acts of their armed youth gang should be completely ignored, as they are trying to justify their crime instead of surrendering to the security agencies. No amount of propaganda will change the truth, they are involved and must be ready to face the law.
He urged law-abiding citizens to go about their normal activities, as efforts are being increased to identify and isolate the criminals and hold them accountable for their terrible actions.
The Army spokesperson noted that the Chief of Army of Staff, Lt Gen Toareed Lagbaja, has ordered that all culprits must be caught.
While sympathizing with the families of the officers and soldiers who died, he has ordered that every effort must be made to catch the perpetrators of these terrible acts and make them face the full force of the law.
The troops are determined to catch these criminals, and there is definitely no hiding place for them.
Slain soldiers identified
Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters released the names and pictures of its personnel killed during a communal clash in Delta state on Monday.
The personnel include four officers and 13 soldiers. The officers are Commanding Officer 181 Amphibious Battalion, Lt. Col. A.H Ali; Maj S.D Shafa; Maj D.E Obi and Capt U Zakari.
The soldiers are SSgt Yahaya Saidu; Cpl Yahaya Danbaba; Cpl Kabiru Bashir; LCpl Bulus Haruna; LCpl Sola Opeyemi; LCpl Bello Anas; LCpl Hamman Peter; LCpl Ibrahim Abdullahi; Pte Alhaji Isah; Pte Clement Francis; Pte Abubakar Ali; Pte Ibrahim Adamu and Pte Adamu Ibrahim.
A military source told one of our reporters that around 20 suspects, including three main suspects, had been arrested. The source added that the operation to catch the perpetrators had not finished yet.
The source, who asked not to be named because of lack of authorization, said, “The operation to catch the perpetrators is still ongoing. I believe that the three main suspects in the killing of the soldiers have been arrested. I don’t have the exact numbers of those arrested so far because it's still ongoing. If I were to estimate, I would say about 20.”
When asked, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, said he would respond to our reporter on Tuesday.
“You will receive details by tomorrow (Tuesday). It is a developing story and requires accuracy,” he said.
However, the Defence Headquarters stated on Monday that there will be controlled reactions and severe consequences for the killers of its personnel in Delta state.
The DHQ, in a statement by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Buba Edward, mentioned that its rules of engagement and human rights laws would be followed when dealing with the culprits.
The statement said, “The senseless and barbaric killing of these men is a tragedy. They were killed in a dehumanised and unspeakable manner. Accordingly, on behalf of the CDS, Gen CG Musa, the armed forces mourn the loss of these brave troops who made the ultimate sacrifice for the nation.
“We offer our condolences to their families, colleagues, and loved ones over the tragic incident. They died trying to restore peace in the nation.
“It is important to emphasize that both the Constitution and the Armed Forces Act entrust the military with the responsibility of protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our nation.
“Therefore, the armed forces consist of citizens from every part of the country who have sworn an oath to put themselves in danger to defend our great country.
“The military assures that there will be controlled reactions and serious consequences for the perpetrators of these despicable acts. Nonetheless, the armed forces, as a disciplined force that follows rules of engagement, laws of armed conflict, and respect for human rights, will be guided by these provisions. We will not be driven by emotions but by the rule of law.”
Buba also refuted reports of retaliatory attacks by troops in the community after the incident.
He mentioned that the community had been deserted before the arrival of the troops on the scene.
Buba urged those spreading false information about the incident to stop disrespecting the dead.
He called on the community to help the military in arresting the perpetrators of the heinous crime.
He said, “In light of this, the military rejects all claims that the military carried out retaliatory attacks in the Okuama community after the incident. The community was deserted even before troops arrived at the scene.
“More importantly, those spreading this misinformation, disinformation, and fake news about the military carrying out retaliatory attacks on the community following the incident, should refrain from further dishonoring our fallen heroes.
The community leaders, elders, and people of Delta State should help in the investigation to find the people responsible for the terrible act so they can be held accountable.
The disagreement between Okuama and Okoloba communities is still not settled, so there might be bad activities not caused by the military.
Buba encouraged Nigerians not to share the horrible videos of the soldiers being killed.
We ask the public not to let any videos of the killed personnel become viral. Their loved ones are still alive, even though they died protecting our country and its citizens.
Allowing such disturbing videos of their death to become viral would be disrespectful to the fallen heroes. Despite the military mourning, they are still determined to ensure the safety and security of citizens across the country.
Okuama under attack
Tension has affected the residents of Okuama as the military Joint Task Force continues to surround the troubled community.
Many Okuama residents who fled while their houses were being destroyed by the military took shelter in nearby communities within Ewu Kingdom and beyond.
The Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide condemned the brutal killing of the soldiers in Okuama, calling the incident “very unfortunate”.
To us, this is not only barbaric but also unacceptable,” the council stated in a statement issued on Monday and signed by its spokesman, Binebai Princewill.
The IYC said the Okuama incident “is an evil that must not be swept under the carpet,” hence everything possible should be done by the government to bring the culprits to book to serve as a deterrent to others.
The military top hierarchy should conduct a thorough investigation into the matter to bring the perpetrators of this terrible crime to justice. This is an evil that must not be ignored as bringing the culprits to book will serve as a deterrent to others.
Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, should quickly resolve the differences between the people of Okuama and Okoloba before it gets worse. The government must not seem too relaxed in addressing communal clashes.
This news is very disturbing. The government must act now. We have already lost too many lives in this battle, and we cannot afford to lose more.
Journalists barred from military
The Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, went to the troubled community on Monday to assess the extent of the destruction.
The military Joint Task Force did not allow journalists to cover the governor’s assessment tour of the troubled community.
The JTF operatives blocked the major entrances to Okuama with an armored personnel carrier tank, preventing vehicles, people, including journalists, from entering the community.
The governor met with the leader of the military JTF, General Officer Commanding 6 Division Nigeria Army, Major General Jamaal Abdulsalam, in a private meeting that lasted about one hour.
Soldiers reportedly entered Igbomotoru community in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on Sunday.
The reason for their presence at the community could not be confirmed, but it was learned on Monday that the soldiers were reportedly searching for militants who used the area as their hideout.
It was unclear if the soldiers' mission was related to the killing of 16 military personnel in neighboring Delta State, but a community source said they arrived in Igbomotoru in five gunboats.
The soldiers allegedly destroyed about three houses suspected to be used by a militant leader and his gang.
They reportedly fired shots at some youths at the jetty before setting the three houses on fire, while the militant leader and his men had already left the area.
The incident caused panic in the community, leading the people to flee into the bush and creeks for their safety.
A source stated, “The military invasion has greatly affected the people. Lives have been lost, and properties destroyed. Even after the attack, I am certain that life in that community can never be the same.
“This weekend was planned for the burial of one of my late uncles. We had arranged for food, drinks, music, a speedboat, and canopies. And now, because of this, the burial cannot take place.
“In fact, some of the people we paid are saying that if the date is changed, we will have to pay more money. Isn't that a significant loss? So we will have to start looking for more money, if there will ever be peace in the community.
“I urge the federal and state governments to urgently intervene in this matter. We are not involved in whatever happened in Delta State. The international community should help us.”
However, another community source said the soldiers arrived in Igbomotoru community in seven gunboats and reportedly shot at some youths seen at the jetty.
The source said, “For now, I’m in the bush as I speak. But in the early hours of yesterday (Sunday) around 8 o’clock in the morning, I saw military gunboats, about seven, and one passport arriving in the community.
“I was standing at the waterside watching them; they noticed some of our youths in the jetty and that's when they started shooting at them. Many people have died. Since yesterday (Sunday), we have been hiding.”
Attempts to contact the spokesperson for the Nigerian Army 16 Brigade, Elebele-Yenagoa, were unsuccessful.
Additional reports by Daniels Igoni