Military personnel deployed to Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State were 16 soldiers were killed last weekend, have burnt down more buildings and occupied the community.
Sources say the soldiers who are currently occupying the community have razed or demolished several buildings.
The army had on Sunday, deployed armoured vehicles to Bomadi, headquarters of Bomadi council, over the killing of military perconnel who came to intervene in a communal crisis between Ijaw and Urhobo communities in the area.
The military personnel and no fewer than three armoured vehicles were seen zooming across the Bomadi bridge late, yesterday, probably heading to the creeks.
This came as President Bola Tinubu ordered the military high command to fish out those who killed the military officers.
Urhobo group urges probe
Meanwhile, the Urhobo Media Practitioners Advocacy Group, UMPAG, has demanded an independent investigation into the killings and arrest of the culprits.
A community source, who spoke to newsmen, said: “As I’m talking to you right now, soldiers are there and they continue the demolition of buildings in the community, and I don’t think they will leave very soon. They usually come to our community to buy some stuff and go back to Okuama.’’
Recall that last week, soldiers from the 222 battalion of the military Joint Task Force, JTF, Bomadi Division, led by the commander, Maj. Jaffa, were ambushed and killed while on a rescue mission to Okuama to release a hostage, Mr. Anthony Aboh, from neighbouring Okoloba community in Bomadi over a lingering land dispute. The situation became tense when more soldiers were killed the following day.
The perpetrators of the act, who fled the community during the remobilisation and the consequent reprisal attack on Okuama by the military, are now at large, with the military launching a manhunt for them in n e i g h b o u r i n g communities.
Meanwhile, a renowned ex-militant leader and his group, who was allegedly hired by Okuama community to fight their neighbouring Okoloba community, is said to have been declared as the prime suspect, and is currently on the run.
Indigenes who fled the community, especially children and women, are reported to be living with relatives in neighbouring communities in Ughelli South.
When contacted to speak on a possible humanitarian crisis in the council, the Head of Personnel Management, HPM, Ughelli South, Mr. Austin Emaduku, said: “First and foremost, I’m a civil servant and not an elected officer and I have my restrictions speaking to the press. “Besides that, the state government has issued a statement on the crisis and the public should take that for now.” It was learned yesterday that the military has commenced a counteroperation. The operation, according to sources, is to fish out the suspects who perpetrated the babaric act of not only killing the soldiers but also beheading some of them as witnessed in viral videos of the bodies recovered. Sources told Vanguard that the Land Component Delta Safe, Major General Jamal Abdusalam, the GOC, 6 division, and the Commander, Operation Delta Safe, Rear Admiral John Okeke are coordinating the counteroperations.
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