- By Femi Alabi
Despite several calls against reprisal attack by well meaning Nigerian following last weekend’s killing of military men on rescue mission to the riverine community, soldiers deployed to Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State have continued razing more houses in the community.
A community source said the military are currently occupying Okuama and that several houses had either been razed or demolished.
The Nigerian military has deployed armoured vehicles to Bomadi, headquarters of Bomadi council, over the killing of military perconnel on peace and rescue mission in Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government 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.
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, 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 adjourning 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.