The Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State where sixteen soldiers were killed have been razed.
There are strong allegations
that some angry soldiers may have perpetrated the act after their colleagues
were killed.
Meanwhile, manhunt for the
killers is still ongoing and some arrests have also been made by the soldiers
led by the General Officer Commanding 6 division Nigerian Army, Major General
Jamal Abdussalam.
Residents of the coastal
community are said to have fled to neighboring Ughelli for fear of a reprisal
by the soldiers who have been patrolling the creeks.
It was reported that fourteen
lifeless bodies of killed soldiers were in the early hours of Saturday
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 Okuama community, in the Ughelli South Local Government Area of
Delta State.
It was gathered that the slain
military personnel responded to a distress call after the communal crisis
between the Okuama and Okoloba communities, both in Delta State, before they
were killed on Thursday, March 14.
Confirming the incident in a
statement on Saturday, the Acting Director of Defence Information, Brigadier
General Tukur Gusau, said the victims were surrounded by some community youths
when troops of the 181 Amphibious Battalion were on a peace mission in the
Bomadi Local Government Area of the state.
“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 statement read.
“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.”
Some of the recovered corpses
were said to have been beheaded, while the stomachs and hearts of others were
ripped off.
At the NDDC jetty in the
coastal Delta community, the bodies of the commanding officer and the two
killed majors were seen floating by the river bank as others were separated on
land.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, has ordered a probe into the tragic killing of four senior officers and 12 soldiers.
Arrests
Made
The defence spokesman said the incident has been reported to the Delta State Government, adding that the CDS has also directed that the culprits be unmasked.
According to him, some suspects
have been arrested in connection with the incident.
He also reiterated the
commitment of the military to its mandate of maintaining peace and security in
various parts of the country.
“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 in place to unravel
the motive behind the attack.”
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