Some Nigerians have bared their minds on what triggered the killing of Nigerian soldiers by angry youths at the oil-rich Delta community in Ughelli South Local Government Area, Straightnews has gathered.
No fewer than 16 military officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army comprising Commanding Officer of 181 Battalion, two Majors, a Captain, 12 soldiers and civilians were among those killed by unknown gunmen in riverside Ijaw and Urhobo communities of Delta State.
Straightnews learnt from undisclosed sources that soldiers of the Nigerian Army visited Okuama, an Urhobo riverine community in Ughelli South of Delta State requesting to see the community shrine and their Chief priest.
Eye witness account stated that an aged man and a 15-year-old from the village having communal issues with Okoloba, an Ijaw community in Bomadi LGA became inquisitive to know the reason of the search.
But, on approaching the soldiers for enquiry, a senior military man of Northern extraction pulled out his gun, fired and killed them on the spot.
Also read: Delta Community deserted for fear of reprisal attack over killing of soldiers
Infuriated, the Okuama youths mobilised themselves for a reprisals and killed the soldiers same night.
Over the years, Okuama community said to be rich in crude and gas has been having land dispute with Okoloba, an Ijaw community in Bomadi Local Government Area.
Though several attempts had been made to end the lingering crisis, the two warring communities have not been assuaged by assurances by different peacekeeping parties in staying away from the oil-rich land.
Writing on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Elochukwu Ohagi, a philosopher and activist, stated ”Update From Okuama Community: Houses Burnt After K*lling Of Soldiers. According to another version of the story, Soldiers of the Nigerian Army visited Okuama, an Urhobo riverine community in Ughelli South LGA of Delta requesting to see the Community shrine and their Chief priest.
@ElochukwuOhagi noted ”Two people, an advanced man and a boy of 15 years approached them to ask what could be the issue. The village has been reportedly having communal issues with Okoloba, an Ijaw community in Bomadi LGA. On approaching the Soldiers to seek answers, the soldiers sh0t them unprovoked, caused chaos and left. The news got to the community and there was rage everywhere.
”The youths organised themselves for a reprisal attack on the soldiers, killed 12 of them on the same night. This morning, Soldiers entered the community in large numbers and started burning houses in the community. The whole village is now empty.”
Pablo Escobar @ahanaelroi wrote on his X handle recalled ‘‘So apparently 2 communities have been having aged long dispute over land. An Ijaw community and an Urhobo community…. they’ve had pockets of violence here and there. Before now. Most recently a certain influential politicians from started using soldiers to intimidate the Urhobo community…
”Earlier this week soldiers came into the community, went to their ancestral shrine and killed their chief priest and his attendants….. That was the straw that broke the camels back. Hence the retaliation and all sparked the tribalism in this said area of delta state alone because of oil… Sponsored by most politicians is very very rife.”
@UzorOkasi wrote ”This actually what happened at Okuama, a Christian Community in Ewu Kingdom, Ughelli South LGA , Delta State ( Old eastern region ) where over a dozen #Nigeria military officers, who are involved in illegal oil bunkering lost their lives this weekend. Nobody is justifying the death of our able bodied soldiers, but why not tell Nigerians the truth, rather than use the biased western media to drive home propaganda and wicked narrative, in order to justify your actions.
”The Nigerian Army claimed that they went to Okuama community for peacekeeping mission. But you wanted to forcefully arrest 3 high chiefs, the community said nope and stood their grounds. What did you do next. Your men opened fire on innocent villagers, injuring well over 500 of them, and killing many. Both old, fragile, women and children were amongst the casualties. But nobody is telling their story, or listening to their plight. After attacking first, you all entered your boats and left. As you were leaving, you all were ambushed by 9 speedboats filled with militants.
”They were the ones who killed our gallant soldiers. Not innocent old men and women who can not operate hunters gun. People who are already injured, bruised and morning their loved ones after your 14th march unprovoked attack on them. Below are some pictures and videos of the injured and murdered at Okuama community.
@FAGalileo said ”Patrick, who’s a community leader in Okoloba, an Ijaw enclave along the River Niger Creek laid a blockade against Okuama, Ewu-ame community, an Urhobo enclave, in Ughelli South LGA, that they shouldn’t use that water lane for fishing and farming. This is the genesis of the present crisis. Coming to Okuama, you’ll have to take a speed boat from Okwagbe, an Urhobo enclave (this jetty is used by both the Ijaws and Urhobos) about an hour plus ride.
”Patrick, last month attacked and killed some youths in Okuama because they breached the blockade. He has the strong backing and support of Tompolo that’s why he has the audacity to carry out these attacks. Okuama youths retaliated, it’s this escalation that led to the Nigerian Army intervening. Unfortunately, the Army has taken sides. Mistrust by the Okuama youths is what led to the unfortunate deaths of those military officers.
”Mind you, Patrick and his boys do go about their activities with MILITARY CAMOUFLAGES, if you’re very familiar with the Niger Delta, you would know that this is a regular thing in the creeks. Questions not being asked are, is this a case of MISTAKEN IDENTITY? Since the youth of the community have been on edge because of the atrocities of Patrick and his boys. As I type this, my grandma’s home has been burnt to the ground, the former Dean of faculty of sciences at DELSU, Abraka, Professor
”Arthur Ekpekpo, his palatial residence has also been burnt to the ground. This Ijaw/Urhobo crisis has been happening for over two decades now in the creeks, but this is a new escalation. First it was Gbaigolo community an Urhobo enclave with another Ijaw community called Akugbene. They’ve been waging unrelenting war, and yet we stand. Questions that are not being asked is, WHY are the Ijaws in Delta creeks harassing the Urhobos in the creek?
”We’ve been there just like them for over a century. Kiagbodo, an Ijaw enclave where Chief Edwin Clark hails from is bordered with Urhobo communities, we don’t harass them, so WHY won’t Tompolo’s boys let the Urhobos be in the waters? As I type this, the Army has laid siege in Ewuotor close to Ughelli, mounted road blocks around Arhawarhien also close to Ughelli.
”Those who escaped the melee in the creek can’t even get to the Land because of the military siege and Tompolo’s boys. I’ll stop here, but it’s important the matter is put into proper perspective so that the world knows what really happened here. A case of mistaken identity might have occurred, and the death of the military officers is highly REGRETTED.
”I urge the military to use its intelligence apparatus and its capabilities to fish out the perpetrators while also calling on them to rein in on the activities of Patrick and Tompolo who are the architect of this whole chaos. But those calling for the earth scorched approach to decimate the community are not only UNHINGED but they’re crazy upstairs. Show me one community in Niger State that was decimated by the Army when over 35 military officers were killed last year. I rest My case here now. ”
