TheNewsGuru

Tag: Okuama

  • A land of unfinished investigations – By Etim Etim

    A land of unfinished investigations – By Etim Etim

    By ETIM ETIM

    It is not a surprise that President Bola Tinubu has ordered investigations into last week’s slayings of 17 army officers and soldiers in Delta State. It was the most gruesome attacks on the Nigerian military in recent times, and as the commander-in-chief said, ‘’it was an attack on our country’’. I should, however, remind the President that there are many unfinished investigations into previous disasters in the country. In fact, the word ‘’investigation’’ has become the most frequently used expression in Nigeria’s official lexicon.  Whenever there’s a crisis in the land – and there have been many of them – there’s a 100 percent chance that the government will promptly promise ‘’urgent investigations to get to the root of the problem’’, but the outcomes of those inquiries are hardly ever known. It would appear that a promise of investigation has become an escape route for public officials buffeted from every angle by all sorts of problems.

    I join others in condemning the murders of 17 army officers and soldiers in Okuama village, Bomadi LGA of Delta State. The investigators have their jobs cut out for them. What was the mission of the army in the area and who gave the order for the mission? We have been told that the soldiers were in the community for ‘peace mission’ over land matters in a small community of not more than 2,000 people. Is it customary for a military operation led by a lieutenant colonel and a major to be involved in land disagreements? I should also invite the investigators to take note of the fact that Okuama might not be the only community in the Niger Delta where soldiers regularly visit. The region itself is not a stranger to this sort of thing. Remember Odi in 2001?

    While we are still investigating Okuama, I recall that in May 2013, over 10 officials of DSS and 55 police officers were slaughtered by a militia group known as ‘Ombatse’ in Nassarawa State. Reports said that the security officers were lured into an ambush, disposed of their weapons, brutally murdered and burnt by the cult group. Frank Mbah, who was the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer then (he is now a DIG) had promised full investigation, noting that the police will track down the killers. ‘’Enough is enough’’, he told journalists. The investigators were expected to answer some numbing questions: What was the mission of the security officials, who authorized the ill-fated operation and how were they lured into the ambush? Eleven years after, there has not been any update on the matter. And we have all moved on. Well, except the families of the departed who might still be mourning their loss.

    Last December, the Nigerian army mistakenly dropped two bombs on a crowd of people in Tudun Biliri village in Igabi LGA of Kaduna State, killing over 100 of them. The villagers were celebrating a religious festival at night, but the military mistook them for a gathering of terrorists and quickly dispatched two drone bombs. There was a national outrage and the military authorities were expectedly embarrassed by such carelessness. President Tinubu was only six months in office, but he managed to make the right noises, promising ‘’prompt investigations’’. Both Kaduna and the federal government scrambled to salvage the situation and save face. The governments and the military high command promised went further to pledged to rebuild the Tudun Biliri village. Four months after, we are yet to hear of the updates on the investigations and the extent to which the village has been rebuilt. More crises are on the way…

    A few weeks after the Tudun Biliri bombings, terrorists invaded three LGAs in Plateau State between Christmas eve and Boxing Day, killing and maiming over 200 villagers.  Again, there were the usual official movements and motions. The state governor, Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, quickly issued a press statement, condemning the ‘’dastardly act’’ and followed it up with appearances on TV talk shows. He spoke of invasion of his state by terrorists and the helplessness of the governors as chief security officers. ‘’As I speak to you, terrorists are occupying some schools in the area and they may launch more attacks’’, he said. Vice President Kashim Shettima visited Jos and held town hall meetings with political and religious leaders. There were the usual talks of ‘’nibbing the crisis in the bud’’ and instituting a high-powered investigation to get to the root of the matter’’. The National Assembly even invited the service chiefs into a closed-door session ‘’to find lasting solutions to the crisis’’. As at this hour, we have not heard of a single arrest being made and the outcome of the ‘’full scale investigations’’. The country has moved on…

    We cannot easily forget March 28, 2022, when terrorists planted explosives on the Abuja-Kaduna rail tracks. The device exploded when the train travelling from Abuja to Kaduna ran over it, killing eight passengers while many others were kidnapped by the terrorists. Again, investigations were promised, and again no word has been heard on where we are on that. Our country is full of many other unfinished investigations into cases of buildings collapse, extra judicial killings, accidental discharges and even that notorious case of a snake swallowing millions of naira belonging to the government.

    Since May 29, a new wave of investigations has come upon us. The CBN and many of its actions, including the Anchor Borrowers Program are under scrutiny. The Senate is planning to look into the N30 trillion ‘Ways and Means’ of the Buhari era, and at the same time, some Northern groups are calling for a probe into the Senate’s N3 trillion budget-padding matter! Talk of investigating the investigator!

    What then do we do with all the litany of investigations in the land? Can we have a judicial committee to investigate all cases of unfinished investigations?

  • Okuama is no more! – By Sunny Awhefeada

    Okuama is no more! – By Sunny Awhefeada

    By Sunny Awhefeada

    The above title reechoes a significant statement in the understanding of the disruptive essence of colonialism in Africa as depicted in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, a novel which is crucial to the understanding of the African predicament. It was Obierika who told his audience including his great friend Okonkwo, “Abame is no more”. The village of Abame was wiped out because her people killed a Whiteman the very symbol of the colonialism in Africa. The colonial enterprise left in its wake a series of punitive expeditions in order to ensure “the pacification of the primitive tribes…”. What happened to Abame also happened to the great Benin Kingdom with its invasion in 1897 as a consequence of the killing of agents of colonialism. The fall of the powerful kingdom which once defined the universe from around the Niger Delta to as far today’s Republic of Benin and her god-like king whose magical prowess was unrivalled and whose word was law and unchallenged was a clear signal that the Whiteman was not to be toyed with and that the institution he represented had come to stay. What befell Benin ricocheted across many places including Urhoboland. The expression “ivwiri aka” which means “Benin smoke” memorializes till this day the intensity of the fire power and smoke arising from the bombardment of Benin. In the wake of that scorched earth invasion, uncountable lives were lost, artifacts were looted, the god-like king was arrested and deported to Calabar and that bloody episode ended an era for the Benin people.

    As I write, the fate of Abame, Benin and other places that resisted the colonial encounter is being visited on Okuama, a small island with less than five hundred inhabitants. Okuama has fallen victim of the present postcolonial contraption enervated by too many subversive contradictions. The village has emanated from centuries of obscurity and suffocating deprivation to attain obnoxious visibility. From being a somnolent enclave on the bank of the River Forcados, Okuama leapt to limelight as televisions, radios and newspapers struggle to give vent to the bloody drama that has gone on for one week and still ongoing. The people of Okuama have been accused by the Nigerian Army of killing their officers and men, numbering seventeen, who had gone there on a peace mission. For that, the Nigerian Army invaded Okuama and razed it inflicting destruction, deaths and displacement. Okuama is no more! The tragedy here is double as the State, represented by the dead soldiers, and humanity, symbolized by the innocent, oppressed, but peace loving people of Okuama, are the victims and the entire community of humanity is grossly diminished. Okuama is no more!

    The gallant soldiers who met their untimely death were human beings like the rest of us and they really deserve our empathy. We must put ourselves in their place and imagine how dastardly they were murdered and debased even in death while serving their fatherland. Soldiers are crucial to the survival of both the primordial and the modern state. They sign up to defend the people and die for the honour of the country if need be, but not the kind of death that they met in the precincts of the Forcados. We mourn with their families and pray for them to be endowed with the fortitude to bear the loss. After all, the slain soldiers are sons, brothers, husbands and fathers to people who by now must have been very distraught. The Nigerian Army also deserves consolation for the loss of their comrade in arms. We also mourn with Nigeria with which we must join hands to undo the present dark and bloody episode.

    Having said the forgoing, one must forthrightly if not audaciously absolve the Okuama people of the allegation of killing the soldiers! Time, the revealer of all things, shall absolve the people of Okuama. Time will also heal them of the wounds, but the scars and memory of loss will remain wherever they might have been dispersed. The Okuama people, who before the military expedition lived on the banks of the Forcados River, are of the Ewu clan in Urhoboland. Let the Military and the Nigerian state check their records and they will discover that there is no single instance of the Urhobo people committing any infraction against them. The Urhobo mindset has always been defined by certain expressions like “agan vre igometi” (you can’t be more powerful that government), “ene ne igometi horaan” (you don’t fight with government), “adjekoyibo” (beware the Whiteman), etc. These sayings speak to the high regard, loyalty and near veneration the Urhobo people, among whom are the Okuamas, have for the government. In the context of the foregoing, the Nigerian Army represents the force of the government which the people have always held in the highest of esteem.

    The Urhobo allegiance to the nation and the Nigerian Army is legendary. It is always said among the Urhobo that you only needed to hang the uniform of a soldier near your household and nobody will trespass! The Urhobo people have been very hospitable to soldiers. They always warmly receive them with “isiagware” the tradition of placing drinks, kolanuts and money in a bowl as a show of friendship and hospitality. There is no soldier posted to Urhoboland that doesn’t know the “isiagware” tradition. Let the Nigerian State do a simple fact-checking, there has been no single instance where the Urhobo raised a finger against the military. Soldiers occupied Kokori for many years and the people catered for them the way they would their own relations. Probably with the exception of the Tivs, Urhobo men enlisted more in the Nigerian Army than any other ethnic nationality during the Nigerian Civil War. There is no family in Urhoboland that didn’t have a son in the Army in those dreary thirty months. Their son, General David Ejoor, was to become Chief of Army Staff after the war. Are these the same people who will turn around to hound soldiers that they have always embraced?

    After the burning of Okuama soldiers traced the alleged militant leader suspected to be the mastermind of the killing to Igbomotoru an Ijaw village in Bayelsa State. Recall that the originating conflict was between Okuama, and Urhobo community, and Okoloba, an Ijaw community. Will the Urhobo commit such a heinous crime against the State and run to seek refuge in the village of the ‘antagonist” tribe? This runs against the grain. The initial narrative offered by the Nigerian Army which accused the placid youths of Okuama of killing the soldiers needs to be reconstructed. Whoever knows Okuama before the incident will know that the kind of capacity that will undo troops of the Nigerian Army is lacking in the sleepy village. The narrative should be reconstructed. The soldiers could have been killed elsewhere and their bodies dumped at Okuama. It is not impossible. Urhobo youths have never been known to be militants. Their engagement with the Nigerian state has always been constructive even at critical moments. Thankfully, the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has asked the authorities to look beyond the area for the perpetrators of the act. 

    The Federal Government’s directive to the military to bring the criminals to justice was not only ill advised, but a carte blanche! It was as good as telling the soldiers “go destroy and kill” and that has happened. And many innocent people have been killed and the survivors have been displaced with no homes to go back to. Okuama is no more! The government seems to lack memory. This happened in Odi and Zaki Biam. Has it stopped the act? In fact the Army Chief under whose watch Odi was leveled hailed from Zaki Biam. He was still alive when another Army Chief ordered the razing of Zaki Biam. Nations do not evolve like that. The Army, no matter the provocation, must learn to act professionally so that it can continue to earn the respect, trust and cooperation of the citizens. The Federal Government needs to institute an independent inquiry into what happened at Okuama. The Federal Government should rebuild Okuama and let the survivors return to their ancestral home with compensation. The time to do so is now as Okuama is no more!                              

  • BREAKING: Gov Oborevwori sends strong warning to traditional rulers over soldiers killed in Delta

    BREAKING: Gov Oborevwori sends strong warning to traditional rulers over soldiers killed in Delta

    Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Thursday, cautioned traditional rulers in the State against shielding suspects involved in the killing of four military officers and thirteen soldiers in Okuama community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of the State.

    Governor Oborevwori gave the warning when he addressed traditional rulers, on the unfortunate incident at the State Traditional Rulers’ Council Secretariat in Asaba.

    The Governor who said that the act was alien to the state, described it as barbaric, inhumane and unacceptable and vowed that those who committed the evil act must be made to face the full wrath of the law.

    He said no kingdom should shield the perpetrators of the dastardly act, adding that Delta was governed within the tenets of the rule of law and human decency.

    Oborevwori said; “On the 7th of February, we summoned the people of Okoloba and Okuama communities in Bomadi and Ughelli South Local Government Areas including the members representing the two constituencies in the State House of Assembly, the Council Chairmen and their Presidents-General where we advised them that a lot has been happening in their area and they signed a peace accord.

    “The killing of these Army Officers and soldiers came as a rude shock to us and when this thing happened, I immediately called the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Defence Staff and the Army Staff because I was in Abuja. I came back and issued a press statement.

    “On Monday, I went to Bomadi to meet with all the security chiefs, where we had our security council meeting and I got briefings from the Brigade Commander. In attendance was the G.O.C 6 Division Nigeria Army, Maj Gen Jamil Abdussalam and the JTF Commander, Real Admiral John Okeke.

    “After the meeting, I went to Abuja to meet with Mr. President to brief him on what happened. I also went to see the Chief of Army Staff to discuss with him. I also meet with the National Security Adviser and the Inspector General of Police.

    “I felt that it is also proper that I brief you people even though you may be aware. Those people who committed that evil act must face the wrath of the law. No kingdom should shield those criminals because Delta state is governed by the tenets of the law and human decency.

    “We cannot tolerate that. It has never happened in this state; to kill one Lt. Colonel, two Majors, one Captain and 13 Soldiers. We need to fish out those involved.

    “Do not hide or shield anybody. The Chief of Army Staff and Mr. President have assured me that innocent people will not be victimised; unless you conive with the killers of the soldiers.

    “I have briefed you and make sure that you fish them out from your kingdoms. If any traditional ruler shields a criminal, that traditional ruler is inviting trouble.

    “We did not bargain for this evil act but for peace, I don’t want crisis. I have also received information that two other villages are boiling to fight, they should not fight, we want peace in all our communities.

    “What are they fighting for? I have promised you people that I am going to do more for Deltans, so what are they fighting for? All of us are Deltans and we want development.

    “For the first time almost two decades, we had peace in Warri in December and people celebrated in peace. Now we have communal crisis, why?

    “I condemn it and it’s unacceptable. So please my dear royal fathers let us be on the same page to fish out these people. Don’t allow anybody who committed this evil act to come to your kingdoms and bring problem to your community.

    “Tell us and we will hand them over to security agencies. You should not play politics with this. Don’t say that the Army have taken over your village because they cannot just come to your village without getting information. But I assure you people that no innocent person will be victimised.

    “Tell your people not to encourage crisis because if you do, you cannot come out of it. Some people don’t have knowledge of what is happening and they start talking. What I did was to go and brief the Commander in Chief and later granted the State House Correspondents interview.”

    Responding, Chairman Delta State Traditional Rulers Council, His Royal Majesty, Maj. Gen. Felix Mujakperuo, (retd), said that they were on same page with the Governor to ensure peace and security in the state.

    While saying that the security of various kingdoms would dovetail to the security of the state and the nation, he called for a judicial panel of enquiry to unravel the immediate and remote cause of the crisis.

    In a related development, Governor Oborevwori also briefed the Delta State Advisory and Peace Building Council where he urged them to talk to the people on the need to maintain peace across state.

    He said government would not allow trouble makers to dissuade investors from coming to invest in the state, adding that sustainable peace was needed to attract investors to the state.

    Chairman of the Council, Professor Sam Oyovbaire commended the Governor for his efforts at ensuring peace and security across the state, stressing that Council members support the peace building moves of the Governor.

    He, therefore, appealed to communities across the state to give peace a chance for the overall growth and development of the state.

  • Army talks tough in new update on killing of soldiers in Delta

    Army talks tough in new update on killing of soldiers in Delta

    The Nigerian Army has said troops of Operation Delta Safe will not rest nor leave the creeks until those involved in the gruesome murder of officers and soldiers at Okuama community in Ughelli South local government area of Delta State are arrested.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division, Nigerian Army/Land Component Commander, Joint Task Force, South South, Operation DELTA SAFE, Major General Jamal Abdussalam said this on Thursday.

    Major General Abdussalam said this when the Managing Director (MD)/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief (Dr) Samuel Ogbuku paid him a condolence visit at the Division’s Headquarters in Port Harcourt Barracks.

    Abdussalam maintained that troops conducting operations over the gruesome murder of officers and soldiers at Okuama community would be firm, strong, decisive and professional in the cause of the operations in the general area.

    While appreciating the MD and his team for the visit, the GOC disclosed that “the mission handed to troops by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja is basically to recover the weapons carted away by the perpetrators of this heinous crime and ensure that all those involved are arrested”.

    He further added that troops will continue to be in the creeks until these objectives are achieved.

    The GOC further reiterated that no amount of propaganda, arm-twisting, blackmailing, intimidation, and false narratives would distract troops from staying on course to achieve their objectives.

    He, however, assured that the operations would be conducted in the most professional manner in line with the global best practice of adherence to rules of engagement and respect for the fundamental human rights of the citizenry.

    He called on people of the Niger Delta Region to go about their normal activities. Abdussalam appealed to people and communities to assist troops regarding the location of the fleeing criminals and the weapons carted away.

    The Armed Forces of Nigeria, he averred is the symbol of our sovereignty, stressing that the Commander-in-Chief, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu captured it succinctly when he said an attack on our Armed Forces is an attack on our nation.

    “Therefore, if we allow criminals to continue to attack our security forces, there will be anarchy,” the GOC said.

    Major General Abdussalam stressed that the troops will not rest until all those involved are tracked down to account for their deeds while reassuring that the operation is being conducted in such a way that, going forward, nobody would contemplate attacking men in uniform.

    He also stressed that false narratives being churned out, and propaganda peddled over this mindless criminality would not deter troops from fishing out the criminals.

    The GOC appreciated the MD and his team for identifying with the NA at this moment of grief. He added that there would not be development without peace and security.

    “Thus, the two institutions would continue to work together for the common good of society,” he while calling on well-meaning members of the society to avail the Nigeria Army credible intelligence on where to get the criminals and ensure they answer for their crimes.

    Earlier, the NDDC MD, Chief Samuel Ogbuku, while commiserating with the GOC, said that without peace in the Niger Delta region, there would not be development.

    Chief Ogbuku averred that the Niger Delta region has been peaceful for some time, owing to the sacrifices of officers and men of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

    However, he said the sad event that occurred in Okuama has called for concern.

    This he said informed the reason he led his management team on the condolence visit to the Division, adding that they stand in solidarity with the Nigeria Army over this gruesome murder of officers and soldiers.

    Ogbuku said this unfortunate incident didn’t define the people of the Niger Delta region, adding that for years now, the people of the region have embraced peace and dialogue.

    He further said that no one in the region is in support of this mindless act of criminality.

    The Niger Delta region he said has been relatively calm and remains the bedrock of the national economy. He called on all critical stakeholders to calm and support the Nigeria Army to fish out the perpetrators of this act.

    This, he said, is the only way justice would be served, particularly to those who paid the supreme price. He assured that they would continue to pray and support the families they left behind.

    He expressed optimism that the Nigeria Army will conduct its operations in the most professional manner by ensuring that innocent people don’t take the brunt of the crime committed by criminals.

  • What Senate told Service Chiefs over killing of soldiers in Delta

    What Senate told Service Chiefs over killing of soldiers in Delta

    The Senate Joint Committee on Defence, Army, Navy and Airforce on Wednesday in Abuja met with the Service Chiefs over the killing of 16 soldiers in Okuoma Community in Delta.

    The meeting observed a minute silence in honour of the late 16 soldiers before going into a close door session.

    Speaking, Sen. Ahmad Lawan, the Chairman of the Committee, condemned the killing of the soldiers.

    “The troops of 181 Amphibious battalion, on Thursday, 14 March, 2024, went on a peace mission to Okuoma Community in Delta.

    “The troops on the peace mission to Okuoma community in Bomadi local government area of Delta State were surrounded by some community youths, which resulted in the death of officers and men.

    “Acknowledging the gravity of the attack on the military personnel, the Senate at its plenary on Tuesday, March, 19, mandated the Joint Committee on Defence, Army, Navy and Airforce to investigate the incident.

    “The Senate also urged the federal government to ensure that those responsible for the heinous crime are identified, apprehended and brought to justice,” he said.

    Lawan added: “We in the Senate and indeed, the National Assembly, will always support our military in whatever way we can, the National Assembly has that history.

    “We try to at all times make meaningful appropriation for resources to be available.

    “We know it has never been enough and, in fact, I will take this opportunity to commend our Armed Forces for doing so much with the little we can afford.

    “The insecurity in our country takes precedence over any other consideration and, therefore, it is the position of the Senate that no investment in any sector can be more important than ensuring that we are secured as a country.”

    “We therefore, are very sad as a parliament over this tragic incident. It is our hope in the Senate that those who perpetrated this barbaric and horrific act are captured and the law takes full course on them.

    “I want to appeal to Nigerians that this is our Armed Forces and they cannot secure us without us as citizens playing our part. Therefore, every citizen is supposed to support our Armed Forces.

    “And those in the area where this incident happened must volunteer information because this is the only way we can stop something like this from happening another time”.

  • Soldiers killed in Delta to receive National Honours – Tinubu

    Soldiers killed in Delta to receive National Honours – Tinubu

    President Bola Tinubu has disclosed that the soldiers killed in Delta State while on a peace mission will be given befitting burial and conferred with national honours.

    President Tinubu made the disclosure during the breaking of the Ramadan fast with leadership of the House of Representatives on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Recall that about 16 soldiers on a peacekeeping mission were killed by militants, reportedly in Okuama community last week.

    “I will soon make further pronouncements. They must have a befitting burial and they must have national honour,” Tinubu said.

    The President also urged the legislators not to forget their constituencies and to take advantage of the Holy month of Ramadan to show compassion and support the less privileged in society.

  • Killing of soldiers in Delta: I will soon make further pronouncements – Tinubu

    Killing of soldiers in Delta: I will soon make further pronouncements – Tinubu

    President Bola Tinubu has said he will soon make further pronouncements on the recent dastardly killing of soldiers on national duty in Delta State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports President Tinubu made this known at the breaking of Ramadan fast with Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and the leadership of the House on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Recall 16 military personnel were killed during a communal clash in Delta State last Thursday. The personnel met their death reportedly during a rescue mission in a clash between Okuama and Okoloba communities in the State.

    Tinubu while expressing his heartfelt condolences to the families of the bereaved, pledged that the sacrifices of the fallen heroes would never be in vain.

    “In responding to distress calls, they met the end of their lives in a savage manner. Let us work to sympathize and symbolize the fact that they are worth the sacrifices they have made for Nigeria.

    “We salute all our men and women in uniform, and we sympathize with them. I will soon make further pronouncements, but they must have a befitting burial and national honours,” the President said.

    Meanwhile, the State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori has assured that no innocent citizen will suffer from the outcome of March 14 killing of soldiers and that those culpable would be brought to book.

  • No innocent citizen will suffer for killing of soldiers in Delta – Gov. Oborevwori

    No innocent citizen will suffer for killing of soldiers in Delta – Gov. Oborevwori

    Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta has said the State government and military authorities have agreed that no innocent citizen will suffer from the outcome of the March 14 killing of soldiers.

    Oborevwori said this on Tuesday while speaking with State House Correspondents after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He said that the unfortunate killings of military personnel had further exacerbated the feud between the two warring communities.

    “Since last year, we have been enjoying peace in Delta State and we commend all security agencies.

    “Mr President assured me that he is in support of the peace and we both condemned the killing of the officers and the soldiers who were on peace mission.

    “What is happening now is something that we didn’t bargain for. But we want to assure everybody that there would be no more attacks on the villages if there is any that has happened in the past.”

    The governor gave the assurance that those culpable would be brought to book, adding that innocent citizens are assured of safety.

    He said that a meeting between the state government and traditional leaders would be held next week to find a quick resolution to the issue on ground.

    Fifteen military personnel were killed during a communal clash in Delta State last Thursday.

    The personnel met their death during a rescue mission in a clash between Okuama and Okoloba communities in the state.

    On the burning down of some villages in the affected communities, Oborevwori said many opinions circulating about the incidence were not true.

    “The issue of whether a place has been burnt down or people have been killed, it has happened but what is the way forward? The ways forward are two ways.

    “The people that have been killed, the officers and soldiers, we must see how we can find succour for their families and give them befitting burial, also the community.

    “Anything that has happened in the community in the past will not happen again. We assure that the people who are culpable will be brought to book.

  • REVEALED: How Okoloba, Okuama signed peace accord before brutal killing of CO, 2 Majors, Captain, 12 soldiers

    REVEALED: How Okoloba, Okuama signed peace accord before brutal killing of CO, 2 Majors, Captain, 12 soldiers

    Details have emerged on how leaders of Okoloba community and Okuama community, both in Delta State, signed a peace accord before the dastardly killing of soldiers in the State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Okoloba is located in Bomadi local government area while Okuama is located in Ughelli South local government area, both of Delta State.

    It was gathered that leaders from both communities had signed the peace accord five weeks before some youths ambushed and killed 16 officers and men of the 181 Amphibious Battalion of the Nigerian Army.

    While it is yet to be confirmed those who carried out the dastardly act, those killed, the Commanding Officer (CO), two Majors, one Captain and 12 soldiers, were said to be on a peace mission to Okuama when they were ambushed and killed.

    The peace accord, it was gathered, was brokered by the Special Adviser to Delta Governor Sheriff Oborevwori on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, Chief Edwin Uzor.

    The peace accord followed the crisis which recently erupted between both riverine communities over boundary issues.

    Chief Uzor said during the signing of the peace accord that the administration of Governor Oborevwori will not tolerate leaders who are brewing crises in their domains.

    While signing the peace accord, Chief Uzor charged leaders of the communities to avoid making comments capable of hitting up the polity, stressing that leaders who are brewing crises in their domains would be made to face the consequences of their actions.

    The Governor’s SA observed that both communities had been living together in harmony and urged them to continue to keep the peaceful relationship they have enjoyed over time.

    Uzor also encouraged the people to maintain laid down principles guiding them in the past, emphasising that dialogue remained the proper way of resolving the issue.

    On the issue of the boundary dispute, Uzor urged the communities to maintain the consensus earlier established by the traditional ruler of Akugbene Mein Kingdom and avoid creating unnecessary tension in the area.

    He warned that any community leader going against set down rules and regulations will be prosecuted by security agents.

    On the alleged killing of some residents of Okuama community, the Special Adviser urged the people to remain calm, adding that security agencies will investigate the issue and bring anyone found wanting to book.

    During signing of the peace accord, Uzor had urged the indigenes of both communities to support security personnels with vital information needed to effectively resolve the issue to fast track development in the area.

    “On the issue of the matter, the police have taken a very strategic step which is the function of police. You know the matter is now in two ways: the criminal aspect and the peace resolution aspect.

    “The criminal aspect is being handled by the police, guarding everywhere. We should live within the limit of the law. We should not be doing things that will be escalating problems in the community,” Uzor said.

    Present during signing of the peace accord were the members representing

    Bomadi constituency in the State House of Assembly, Boyo Preyor and his counterpart in Ughelli South, Festus Utuama.

    Others present during signing of the peace accord were the Chairmen of both local government areas, representatives of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and representatives from both communities.

    Five weeks after the peace pact was signed, it would be reported that a Commanding Officer (CO), two Majors, one Captain and 12 soldiers, were ambushed and killed.

    The identity of those killed have been revealed to include, Lt. Col. AH Ali (Commanding Officer, 181 Amphibious Battalion); Major SD Shafa; Major DE Obi; Capt. U Zakari, and Sgt. Yahaya Saidu.

    Others included Cpl Yahaya Danbaba; Cpl Kabir Bashir; LCpl Bulus Haruna; LCpl Sole 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.

    Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has authorised the military high command to fish out those who  killed  military officers and men in Delta.

  • Okuama complicit, must face wrath of the law – Nigerian Army sends out strong warning

    Okuama complicit, must face wrath of the law – Nigerian Army sends out strong warning

    The Nigerian Army has sent a strong warning to the Okuama community in Delta State to “be ready to face the full wrath of the law”.

    The Nigerian Army accused the Okuama community of “resorting to media propaganda and shenanigans to divert attention from the gruesome killing of 16 officers and soldiers”.

    This is contained in a statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, on Monday in Abuja.

    Nwachukwu said that rather than engage in a positive effort to fish out perpetrators of the heinous crime, the community has resorted to propaganda against the Nigerian military.

    This, according to him, is a clear indication that the murder of the troops was a communally orchestrated attack against legitimate forces.

    He said that the falsehood being peddled by the criminals and their cohorts to whip up sentiments and sway public opinion clearly indicated that the community endorsed and  supported the outrageous criminal act.

    “It is only a ridiculous attempt at justifying their crime, rather than turn in themselves to security agencies.

    “There is no amount of propaganda that would arm-twist the narrative; they are complicit and must be ready to face the wrath of the law.

    “While law-abiding citizens are assured that there will be no reprisal on the part of the troops, we enjoin all to go about their normal activities, even as ongoing efforts are scaled up to positively identify and isolate the criminals to account for their atrocious deeds,” he said.

    Recall that troops of 181 Amphibious Battalion comprising one Lt. Colonel, two Majors, one Captain and 12 Soldiers were killed while on a mediation mission to the community.

    Nwachukwu said the troops, who were out there for peace and to secure the lives and property of people in the Niger Delta, were murdered in the most  gruesome, heartless and cruel manner and their remains debased.

    “Regrettably, the community complicit in this dastardly act has resorted to media propaganda and shenanigans, rather than engage in a positive effort to fish out the perpetrators of this heinous crime.”

    Nwachukwu said the Chief of Army of Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Toareed Lagbaja, has commiserated with the families of the officers and soldiers who lost their lives.

    He said the COAS  had directed that the perpetrators of the gruesome acts must be  apprehended to face the full wrath of the law.

    “Troops are determined to get to these criminals; there is certainly no hiding place for them,” he added.