By Abiola Olawale
There is palpable fear and chaos in Okuama and Okoloba communities located in Delta state as several cases of shooting spree have been recorded, in the past two days.
It was gathered that several civilians, including two majors and 13 soldiers have been confirmed dead in a fierce war between irate youths who are at each other jugular in the two warring communities.
According to a press statement by the Acting Director, Defence Information at the Defence Headquarters, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, the 15 soldiers of the 181 Amphibious Battalion, were killed while carrying out their peacekeeping mission in the two warring communities in Ughelli South and Bomadi LGA of Delta State respectively.
In the statement, Brig-General Gusau confirmed that the Chief of Defence Staff, General CG Musa, has ordered the immediate arrest and investigation of all those involved.
He said:”The troops of 181 Amphibious Battalion, 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 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”.
However, the vice president general of the Okuama community, Chief David Akata, who spoke to the media accused the Nigerian Army of escalating the situation in the community.
According to Akata, the army who ought to have ensured peacekeeping and reconciliation amongst the two communities decided to invade the Okuama community like the “unknown gunmen”.
In his account, he said the Army shot sporadically at anyone in sight leaving three indigenes dead and several others injured.
He disclosed that his community recorded three casualties with many others injured and houses set ablaze as the armed men in military uniforms wreaked havoc allegedly in the Okuama community from a speedboat.
His words: “The armed men suspected to be Nigeria Army on Friday, March 14, 2024, carried out the genocide on the citizens of the community by setting their buildings and properties ablaze with chanting of war songs.
“We woke up to see our community surrounded by men in military uniform numbering in their tens and without just no reason they started shooting at sight leading to the death of three promising youths of the community and several others injured from gun bullets. The same military men repeated their genocide actions on the innocent and law-abiding citizens of the Okuama community on Friday, March 15, 2024, leaving many buildings to their rumbles as they carried offensive arson on the community buildings.
“As I speak, the number of persons who died in the barbaric attack could not be ascertained as many of the aged men, women, and youths fled into the nearby bushes and we suspect that some women and children might have drowned in the river because many ran into the river out of panic. This is disheartening that the Delta State government and security operatives in the state with a lackadaisical approach have not been able to quell the crisis between the two communities. We entered a peace accord with the state government and security operatives.
“We stand by the accord but often the Okoloba people harassed our people by assaulting them, and our pleas on the state government to expedite action and call the Okolobians to order fell on deaf ears allowing the Okoloba community people to use their mercenaries military uniforms and bandits to kill our people”.
