Nigerians have cautioned against reprisals in Okuama community of Delta to avoid wanton destruction of lives and property of innocent persons at the expense of fishing out killers of the soldiers in the area.
Already, troops of the Nigerian Army have stormed Igbomotoru community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, razing houses and allegedly killing some people.
The action is sequel to last week’s killing of 16 soldiers and officers at Okuama Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.
Soldiers in five gunboats reportedly invaded the community, razing houses suspected to be the hideout of a militant leader said to be involved in the killing of the military men who were on a rescue mission in Delta.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, had ordered an immediate investigation and arrest of the culprits.
Also read
- Delta attack: DHQ releases names, photos of fallen soldiers
- Delta Community deserted for fear of reprisal attack over killing of soldiers
- What triggered killing of soldiers in Delta community- Report
Reacting in their X (formerly Twitter) handles, some commentators warned against venting anger on innocent persons and razing their property instead of going after perpetrators of the dastardly act.
@General_Somto recapped ‘‘Here’s a Video Of Over 70 Nigerian Soldiers Killed And Several Others Abducted In Borno State. The Bodies Of Some Of The Soldiers Killed Were Even Displayed In This Video. What Was The Response Of The Nigeria Army After This? Nothing. Were Any Community Burnt Down In Borno? No. Did The Military Go About Slaughtering Innocent Civilians And Committing Genocide In The Community Were Those Soldiers Were Killed In Borno? The Answer Is No.
”When It Comes To The North, They Turn a Blind Eye. Fulani Bandits-Terrorists-Herdsmen And Boko Haram Terrorists Are Treated Specially, Granted Amnesty And Untouchable. Only In The South East (SS and SE) That The Nigerian Armed Forces Operate Differently. They’re Already Burning Down Communities In Delta State. Ughelli South LGA Is On Fire Right Now. In Igbo Land, They Can Kill And Massacre Igbos Without Care Or Caution. One Nigeria Indeed!!!
Emeka Gift Official @EmekaGift100 commented ‘‘These are Boko haram in the north celebrating after slaughtering Nigerian soldiers . No community was set ablaze. But in Okuama Ughelli South LGA, Delta state, soldiers invaded a community murdered children, women, old and young, set a whole community ablaze because some bandits attacked and killed some soldiers . That is quite playing double standard. Nigeria is never one and can never be one.’’
@IamTheIroko stated ”36 soldiers and one helicopter was destroyed in Shiriro Niger state by a certain Dogo Jede and his boys and not single building in Shiriro was razed. Infact hear what the gov said. Ughelli South LGA Genocide Arewa MTN Network SS and SE.”
Queen Bee remarked ‘‘@RealQueenBee__ IN AUGUST 2023, THE NIGERIAN AIR FORCE SUFFERED HUGE CASUALTY IN SHIRORO AREA – NIGER STATE: The Youths shot down, killed countless numbers of the Air Force personnel, and officers include: 1 Air Marshal 3 Air Vice-Marshal 4 Air Commodore 24 Wing Commander Only God knows what the next civilian casualties will be in the coming days in that community. To your heals, not to “your tents” O young men in the Shiroro Community.
Ikechukwu Ude @Ozo__Ude wrote in his X handle ‘‘Over 10,000 Nigerian Army have been killed in the north by rockets, herdsmen, kidnappers and boko haram terrorists, iswap since 2009 but not a single Town in the north was recorded to have been raised down or destroyed in retaliation. In 1999 Nigerian soldiers raised down a whole town in bayelsa state in retaliation… Operation Python dance raised down several villages in South East. Just last year, lots of villagers became homeless in anambra state. Uli Town and many others in ihiala LGA in anambra state became a ghost town as soldiers destroyed their farms, houses etc.
”Delta State has witnessed what south East(Igbo nation ) Nigeria has been suffering since 2015 till date. A better word is profiling, marginalization, etc. I think Nigerian soldiers see southern Nigeria as enemy zone. More soldiers have been killed in the north but houses and communities don’t pay for the sin of a few. It’s obvious the north receive special treatment from the army and federal government.
@comradeWF_Fred noted ”It’s clear the Nigerian Army is biased & sympathetic to the barbaric activities of Fulani bandits & kidnappers else they would’ve leveled Shiriro too but they pat them in the back & told them well done for downing Air force Helicopter & k*illing D Army & in return compensated dem.”
But, @shehu_mahdi differed ”NIGERIAN ARMY SUFFERS HUGE CASUALTY IN OKUOMA – DELTA STATE: Those ambushed, killed, and mutilated include: 1. A commanding officer 2 majors 1 captain 12 other soldiers Only God knows what the next civilian casualties will be in the coming days in that community. To your heals, not to “your tents” O young men in the Okuama community.”
‘No hiding place for culprits’– Army
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has warned the Okuama community in Delta state, to “be ready to face the full wrath of the law.”
In a statement signed by Major-General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director Army Public Relations and issued today March 18, the Army flayed the community for resorting to propaganda instead of fishing out the culprits.
This follows the killing of soldiers who were on “a peaceful and mediatory mission” following a communal clash between Okuama and Okoloba communities. Some members of the community had accused the military of carrying out reprisal attacks, killing members of its community as well as destroying properties.
The statement released today reads ‘’The unfortunate killing of troops of 181 Amphibious Battalion of the Nigerian Army (NA), while on a peaceful and mediatory mission, after a reported case of communal clash between Okuama and Okoloba Communities in Ughelli South and Bomadi LGAs of Delta State respectively is not only despicable but should be unreservedly condemned by all.
‘‘These were troops committed to peace and security of lives and property of citizens and non-citizens alike in the Niger Delta Region, murdered in cold blood by an armed youth gang of Okuama Community, in the most gruesome, heartless and cruel manner and went ahead to sacrilegiously debase their remains by ripping out their hearts by the very people they were there to protect.
‘‘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. This again is a clear indication that the murder of the troops was a communally orchestrated attack against legitimate forces.
‘‘The falsehood being peddled by these criminals and their cohorts to whip up sentiments and sway the public to coverup, endorse or support the outrageous criminal acts of their armed youth gang should be disregarded in its entirety, 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.
‘‘The Chief of Army of Staff, Lt Gen Toareed Lagbaja, while commiserating with the families of the officers and soldiers who lost their lives, has directed that no stone should be left unturned until the perpetrators of this gruesome acts are 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.”
