Killing Of Soldiers: Fear Spreads As Ijaw Community In Delta State Turns Into Wasted Land
By Daily Tab24.
“The troops of 181 Amphibious Batallion, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, while on a peace mission to Okuoma community in Bomadi LAG of Delta State, were surrounded by some youths and killed on Thursday, 14 March 2024. The unfortunate incident occurred when the troops responded to a distress call after the communal crisis between the Okuoma and Okoloba communities both in Delta State. The reinforcement team led by the Commanding Officer was also attacked, leading to the death of the Commanding Office, two Majors, one Captain and 12 Soldiers” a press statement by Gusau for the Nigerian Army said.
The Nigerian Army is in consensus that the culprits are the youths of Okuoma and have already deployed soldiers to combat the youths. There is no differentiating between the youths of Okuoma and the real culprits, which put every single person in the community at risk of military onslaught. The press statement is a recipe for retaliation.
Rumors have quickly circulated in the community that Nigerian soldiers would not spare anyone, causing remarkable exodus of youths and elders that can walk or run. Since the unfortunate incident, the community is in turmoil with the people of the community seen migrating with their properties in anticipation of genocide.
Communal crisis as a result of oil has been prevalent in Delta State, with most communities laying claims to lands with oil to benefit of the government derivation. The consequences of land crisis in the oil rich region is often dire, while mostly communities engage communities, rarely has one community turned against the soldiers on peace keeping mission.
The oil rich region has been troubled by the activities of militants who insist on resource control, but often resort to kidnapping and oil theft. In pursuance of sustainable peace in the region, NDDC has minimally commissioned projects to give back to the society; recently the ministry was accused of embezzlement and financial misappropriation.
The recent incident was caused by a kidnapping incident, in which soldiers were called to resolve. The soldiers of 181 Amphibious Battalion responded to a distress call in the community – to reign on the youths of Okuoma to release their hostage, but they refused and accused the military of taking side with their warring counterpart. The troops were later ambushed while going back and murdered.
There is now a standing order to arrest the culprits and Nigerian Soldiers are notorious for committing massacres, which has forced the people of Okuoma community to leave their land. Soldiers have begun burning down houses, killing and arresting the people. Such order to Nigerian soldiers is a recipe for chaos.
“We have asked every youth in the community to leave; even some elders are already leaving. The problem we have is Nigerian soldiers have blocked the major roads, and Okuoma is now a war zone” a member of the community said when contacted on phone.
The fear in Okuoma is spreading to other neighboring communities, and while the community is now empty, innocent youths will likely pay for what they know nothing about.
