Residents of Okuama community in the Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State have shared their perspective on the alleged reprisal following the killing of 16 military (Soldiers) personnel.
Previously, troops from the 181 Amphibious Battalion in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State were killed while on a peacekeeping mission, in response to a distress call stemming from a communal crisis between Okuoma and Okoloba communities in the South-South State.
There were claims that the military carried out a reprisal attack in the aftermath of the incident. However, Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations, emphasized that the armed forces adhere to rules of engagement, laws of armed conflict, and human rights principles. He stressed that the military operates based on the rule of law, even amidst provocation, and the incident wouldn’t deter them from fulfilling their constitutional duties.
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Conversely, during an interview with DRTV in Warri, two Okuama residents accused the military of engaging in mass killings. Speaking on condition of anonymity, they recounted how the soldiers initially arrived for a peacekeeping mission and were welcomed into the town hall by the community.
However, tensions escalated when the soldiers insisted on taking the community chiefs away, leading to a violent reaction from the soldiers when the community refused to comply.
One of the residents said: “On the 14th of March, we were at home when some military officials came to our community. We welcomed them and they said that they wanted to walk around the community. They walked around the community and said that they wanted to have a peace talk at the town hall.
“They went to the town hall. The military men were entertained and welcomed. They (the soldiers) asked for the community chairman and community leaders. They sat with them and had a talk. After that, they asked the chairman and some community leaders to follow them.
“We said that they had had the peace talk with the leaders already so they should leave, but the soldiers insisted they had to take them away. The people said no. From there, the army turned the whole story into violence. Right there, in the community town hall, the soldiers started shooting our people there. Killed many of the young people there. People started running; some were killed instantly. Nobody expected any shooting.
“The army went and came back with more reinforcement. About twenty more people were killed immediately.”
Another source said: “The army – they just changed all of a sudden and opened fire on us. Women and children died. We cannot find some of our children and our parents.
“They (the soldiers) killed over 20 of our fellow residents. Some of our buildings were razed. Many residents have fled and there are even dead bodies in the bush where we have been hiding. We want the government to come to our rescue.”