President Bola Tinubu has directed the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) to ensure that those behind the gruesome murder of 16 soldiers in Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State are fished out and punished accordingly.
The President, who expressed dismay over the killing of the soldiers on a peace mission in Okuama, commiserated with the families of the fallen heroes, their colleagues, and their loved ones.
Tinubu, in a statement yesterday, said, “On Saturday morning, the Nigerian people and I woke up to the dreadful news of the unprovoked killing of our brave military personnel during a rescue mission to the Okuama community, in the Ughelli South local government area of Delta State.
“The incident occurred on Thursday, 14 March 2024, when our troops, responding to a crisis between the Okuama and Okoloba communities in Delta State, were ambushed.
“A commanding officer, two majors, one captain, and twelve soldiers sadly lost their lives. One civilian was also killed.
“As the Commander-in-Chief, I join all well-meaning Nigerians and the men and women of our armed forces to mourn and express my profound grief over the needless death of our gallant soldiers.
“I extend my profound condolences to the families of these fallen soldiers, their colleagues, and their loved ones.
“The military high command is already responding to this incident. The cowardly offenders responsible for this heinous crime will not go unpunished.
“This incident again demonstrates the dangers faced by our servicemen and women in the line of duty. I salute their heroism, courage, uncommon grit, and patriotism.”
Tinubu added, “As a nation, we must constantly remember and honour all those who have paid the ultimate price to keep our country safe, strong and united.
“The officers and men who died in the Okuama community have joined the pantheon of great men and women who gave their all, with honour, in the service of our fatherland.
“Members of our Armed Forces are at the heart and the core of our nationhood. Any attack on them is a direct attack on our nation. We will not accept this wicked act.
“The Defence Headquarters and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) have been granted full authority to bring to justice anybody found to have been responsible for this unconscionable crime against the Nigerian people.”
The President added, “My government will not relent until we achieve peace and tranquillity in every part of Nigeria. May God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria and keep the members of our armed forces safe.”
It was reported that some angry youths of the community were said to have ambushed some soldiers drafted to the community to stop a communal clash in the area and killed them.
Fifteen bodies of the soldiers were recovered by soldiers of the Joint Task Force under the supervision of the General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj Gen Jamal Abdussalam, at the Okuama community.
Youths from Okoloba were said to have been ambushed. They killed three Okuama youths, identified as Igho Meshack, Godspower Awusa, and Okiemute Agbabuleke, over an age-long land dispute in the area as they were returning from Okwagbe.
In a reprisal attack, some Okuama youths on Wednesday reportedly ambushed one Mr Anthony Aboh, an indigene of Okoloba, and held him hostage.
To release the hostage, it was reported that operatives of the JTF swiftly swung into action and moved to Okuama.
*Some suspects arrested, says Defence Chief
The Acting Director of Defence Information, Brig-Gen Tukur Gusau, stated at the weekend that the slain military troops were ambushed and killed while responding to a distress call arising from a clash between Okuama and Okoloba communities in Delta.
Gusau stated that the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, had directed immediate investigation and arrest of those involved in the heinous crime.
He added that the incident had been reported to the Delta State Government.
“The military, however, remains focused and committed to maintaining peace and security in the country. So far, a few arrests have been made while steps ave been taken to unravel the motive behind the attack,” he assured.
*Distressed Okuoma community in Ughelli-South LGA deserted, villagers flee homes
Meanwhile, scores of houses and property were reported destroyed at the weekend at the sleepy Okuama community in Ughelli-South LGA after the killing of 16 soldiers.
In a video posted by Channels Television, black smoke billowed from some buildings in the community as flames flickered in the distance.
A voice in the background could be heard saying, “Your eye goes clear, well, I swear to God. No worry.”
Various reactions have since been trending on social media when the soldiers were declared killed, including a lieutenant colonel, two majors, one captain, and 12 other ranks were murdered and their heads decapitated by rampaging youths on Thursday.
*Monarch speaks
The Ovie of Ewu-Urhobo Kingdom in Delta State, HRM Clement O. Ikolo, reacted to the killing of soldiers in his kingdom.
The troops were deployed to restore order between two warring communities, Okuama and Okoloba communities, in Delta State when they were murdered.
Reacting to the development, the monarch said he learnt the issue between both communities had been settled.
He said, “What has happened is unfortunate news. First, I would like to state clearly that I was in the UK early this year when this whole crisis started in my community, Okuama and Okoloba.
“I contacted the government regarding the crisis, and they told me that they had invited both parties to resolve the issue, and it has been resolved. That’s just the summary of what I know regarding the crisis.
“It is a sorrowful time for our kingdom. These military men are there to protect our nation; they should be held in high esteem. They are there to protect us from people who are there to invade or to commit enormous crimes.
“It is unfortunate that the same people who are there to protect us will be killed in the process. It is disheartening, and I condemn it. May their souls and souls of the faithful depart through the mercy of God rest in peace.”
Don’t wipe out the community, Falana, others plead
Lagos lawyer and human rights advocate, Mr Femi Falana yesterday called on the Federal Government to end the reprisal attacks by the military in the Okuama community.
Falana, in a statement made available yesterday, urged the military to halt the killings of residents while calling for a full probe of the incident.
The senior advocate had earlier on Saturday condemned the brutal killing of the soldiers.
He had also called for the immediate prosecution of the suspects arrested for their involvement in the crime.
Falana said, “Unfortunately, some villages were attacked last night by angry soldiers. After the attack, the villages were set on fire during the nocturnal military invasion.
“Having regard to the destruction of Odi and Zaki Biam over the killing of soldiers, the authorities ought to have taken adequate measures to prevent the attack and burning of the affected villages. Unfortunately, the Federal Government has not issued any statement on the brutal incident.
“Given the tragic turn of events, I call on the military authorities to halt the destruction of the properties of innocent people in the warring communities. It should be pointed out that collective punishment is a serious offence under domestic and international law.”
Falana continued, “Therefore, the Delta State Government should ensure that the murder suspects and arsonists among the civilians and soldiers are fished out and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to other criminal elements in the society.
“Once again, I commiserate with the bereaved families of the slain officers and soldiers. Since they were brutally killed in the course of duty, the Federal Government and the Delta State Government should compensate the dependants of the deceased military officers and soldiers. Compensation should also be extended to the victims of reprisal attacks by angry soldiers.”
Similarly, a group known as the Urhobo Media Practitioners Advocacy Group (UMPAG) called on the Delta State Government and the Nigerian Army to urgently constitute a joint panel of inquiry to unravel the cause and what led to the killing of the soldiers on the said peace mission to Okuama and Okoloba communities.
In a statement jointly signed by its Secretary and Executive member, Mr Theophilus Okpare and Mr Shedrack Onitsha respectively, the group said, “As media professionals, we are mediators and peace advocates. We, therefore, call on our people in the Okuama community and our Ijaw brothers in the Okoloba community to maintain the existing peace while the government and the military get to the root of this tragedy.”
Another group, #Prayer & Support 4 the Nigerian Armed Forces, and other security agencies, have condemned the gruesome killing and mutilation of the bodies of some officers and men of the Nigerian Army.
Convener of the Group, Mrs Mary Fatile, called on the Federal Government and all necessary stakeholders to look into this gruesome killing of military personnel.
She insisted that the government must fish out the killers of these personnel and ensure that they face the wrath of the law.
Fatile emphasised the universal desire for peace and freedom among nations and their citizens and underscored that effective leadership is essential to achieving peace and tranquility globally, particularly in countries where democracy prevails.
The Convener noted that despite over two decades of democratic rule, peace and freedom remain elusive for its citizens.
“Since the advent of democracy in 1999, the nation has been plagued by ongoing challenges to these fundamental democratic principles.
“Even during periods of military rule, dialogue was often employed to resolve issues, yet now, under democratic governance, members of the military are being brutally murdered in settlements within the country. This is particularly alarming given that Nigeria is not at war,” she added.
*Senate mourns death of soldiers
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, has expressed condolences to the Nigerian Army and the Chief of Defence Staff over the death of military personnel murdered in Delta State last week.
Yar’Adua commiserated with the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the Nigerian Army, and officers and men of Operation Delta Safe about the tragic loss of gallant personnel.
The Senator expressed his condolences in a statement he issued on behalf of the Senate Committee on the Army.
He said, “The sacrifices made by the Commanding Officer, three officers, and 12 soldiers during this distressing incident shall forever be remembered.
“Their bravery and commitment exemplify the highest virtue of patriotism, courage, and sacrifice, and their legacy will forever inspire us all.
“I wish to commend the swift response of the Chief of Defence Staff in directing an immediate investigation to apprehend those responsible for this heinous crime. It is crucial that justice is served and those behind this criminal act are brought to account for their actions.
“The Nigerian Army’s unwavering focus on upholding peace and security in our nation is a testament to the resilience and dedication of our Armed Forces.
“The Senate Committee on the Nigerian Army stands firmly alongside the Defence headquarters and the Nigerian Army in seeking justice for the fallen heroes.
“We shall spare no effort in supporting the necessary investigations and legal processes to ensure that those responsible for this crime face the full consequences of their actions.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with you, the families of the fallen heroes, and the entire Armed Forces as we honour the sacrifice and service of our brave personnel,” he added.
Killings, abductions worsen as security spending skyrockets
Meanwhile, ThisNigeria reports exclusively that killings and abductions of innocent civilians and state and non-state actors have continued to worsen by the day, even as the defence and security spending across all strata of government has progressively also skyrocketed to high heavens.
Critical stakeholders in the sector also expressed concern over the bitter pills being taken to slow the situation, especially concerning the unacceptable contradiction.
Data from the National Security Tracker (NST), an initiative of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), and the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) revealed that no fewer than 3,841 people were reported to have been killed by non-state actors. In contrast, 4,243 others were kidnapped in 2023.
This data was culled from cases of killings and abductions reported by the Nigerian and international media platforms from January to December 2023, stressing that the data project, by implication, did not include cases of murders and kidnappings that were not publicized by the media.
This came as the International Centre for Investigative Reporting in February this year averred that over 5,000 Nigerians were killed in Tinubu’s first seven months in office.
These unacceptable killings and abductions have taken place amidst humongous defence and security spending in the past eleven years without remarkable improvements.
Many have expressed strange opinions on the innocuous contradictions, wondering if defence and security spending now fuels killings and abductions rather than extinguishes them.
Nevertheless, President Bola Tinubu recently inducted two new T-129 ATAK helicopters and a King Air 360ER Beechcraft into the Order of Battle (ORBAT) of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
This is in addition to several other platforms inducted since the birth of terrorism and banditry in Nigeria, with particular reference to the overrated American 12 A-29 Super Tucano fighter jets that was mouthed to be the long-awaited antidote to terrorism in Nigeria.
The Spokesperson of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Air Vice Marshall Edward Gabkwet, said in a statement that the NAF has inducted five new aircraft into its fleet, including two Diamond 62 surveillance aircraft, two T-129 ATAK helicopters, and a King Air 360 ER, since the Tinubu administration came on board. This is a multi-million dollar procurement.
Giving a breakdown of the 2023 data quoted earlier, the report said, “3,841 people were reported to have been killed in 2023. Four thousand two hundred forty-three people were kidnapped within the same period. Three thousand three hundred eighty-seven civilians, 200 soldiers, 116 police officers, 106 vigilantes, 17 civil defence corps, four security guards, 4 VIO officers, three customs officers, two immigration officers, 1 NDLEA officer, and one prison warder were reportedly killed in the period under review.”
The incumbent administration said national defence, internal security, and economic stability are the current government’s 2024 statutory appropriation priorities.
Meanwhile, Kabiru Adamu, an analyst for consulting firm Beacon Security, said, “In the 2023 budget, security enjoyed the largest allocation, and in 2024, a budget that is submitted to the National Assembly, there’s almost about 30 per cent to 40 per cent increase in the provision, but unfortunately we haven’t seen remarkable improvements to equate this attention to what the government is giving.”
Speaking to ThisNigeria exclusively on the continued killings in the face of increased defence and security spending, Adamu, said contrasted the notion, arguing that “There is no upsurge in insecurity in the country.
“There have been what I call high-profile incidents. They are high-profile because they have attracted the media’s attention and, of course, the concern of Nigerians. An example of this is the incident in Gamboru Ngala.
“It is high profile because it affected women, it affected kids, and the numbers too were huge. The other one is the Kuriga incident in Kaduna, which affected school pupils. Part of our work is to work with intelligence, gathering and analysing information.
“We know in February, there was a reduction of about 38 per cent in fatalities and about nine per cent in kidnappings, that’s if we compare it with January. With this, it is clear that there is no increase; however, because of this high-impact incident, many people are talking about it, so there appears to be an increase.”
On why banditry and terrorism have defiled applied medication, the security expert said, “We have not come up with a perfect way of managing our security challenges. These elements, the gunmen you and I are talking of, we still don’t have the framework or approach to handle them. The only approach we are applying is using military force, and it is clear that military force has not been able to force them out of circulation.”
He said our approach has not been practical, stressing, “Even this current security sector leadership has not come out with a perfect approach.”
“Let me mention four reasons why we still have this challenge: First, the weapons these gunmen are using they can still access—second, the ability to recruit. The security forces are killing them daily. Every week, the Nigerian defence headquarters will present statistics of the gunmen they have killed, but these gunmen can recreate themselves because they can recruit.
“Thirdly, they can still collect ransom or levies from the communities they are plaguing. Almost 10 years later, we’ve not been able to find a way to stop them from collecting and enjoying the proceeds of these ransoms. Finally, they use motorbikes to enhance their mobility capability.
“They can still move from one point to another on those motorbikes. In the case of the Kaduna attacks, we were told they moved from a part of North West to Kaduna. Covering hundreds of kilometres you can imagine on a motorbike the fuel you need to put in that motorbike to move from point A to point B.
“Then there are other components. Intelligence: How come they can move? Our intelligence community did not detect their movements and prevented them from getting to that school. Then, even after the incident, our response capability was very slow. If we look at the terrain in the northwest, it is semi-arid; the number of trees is not like in the southwest or South-South, where we have thick foliage.
“We know that with good surveillance capabilities, we should be able to see movement. We are not talking of one or two or twenty but two hundred kids. So, after the incident, our response capability can be shown to be defective.”
Looking at the info tech area, Dr Adamu explained, “These guys can still communicate. In fact, before the incident happened, they communicated on the phone; after the incident happened, even the ransom negotiations were communicated via phone. We are not a banana republic. We should have been able to put all of these capabilities in place, and to date, we don’t have measures to address these things that I have mentioned, which is an indication of a bigger problem.”
A security expert, Mr Jackson Lekan Ojo, observed that Corruption in a country leads to a lack of development.
According to him, “Lack of development will bring about anger, anger will bring about loss in confidence in the government, and once the citizens lose confidence in the government, what do they do? They take to self-help, and self-help could mean anything.”
He further explained, “Corruption is endemic in the land today, and when people see somebody who had nothing yesterday, but because he gets into a position of authority, he begins to brandish the best car in the world, he begins to travel across the globe, he begins to build a mansion that is worth millions of naira what do you think will happen?
“People will be discouraged, and they will want to help themselves. With all these analyses, I want to tell you clearly that the issue of insecurity must not be handled with levity, but that is what we are doing; the government does not have the political will to fight insecurity.”
The Publisher of the Security Digest news portal, Mr Chidi Omeje, attributes the spike in insecurity to a high level of bad governance.
He argued, “Bad governance at the centre and sub-national levels engenders hardship, hunger, and despair. It is this hardship and despondency that breeds anger, which subjects people to crimes and criminalities.
“A country where crime is high, unemployment is increasing, inflation is incredibly high, where we have not just inflation but stagflation. There is stagflation, and we are bound to see crime when we have all these social and economic indices.
“We are talking about terrorism, banditry, insurgency, and criminality. These are serious crimes that actually threaten the state. Serious crimes that bother on insurrection because no country can survive when confronted with these crimes.”
Lamenting the escalating criminality across the federation, Omeje said kidnappings were persisting, alleging that the government has been incapable of subduing the criminal elements because the government has allowed so many things to degenerate.
He explained, “In Nigeria, we have the police as the lead agency in dealing with internal security, while we also have the military that ought to be called upon when the challenges are beyond the capacity of the police to deal with. That was how it was designed, but now the police have been rendered ineffective that they are only interested in VIP protection.
“Now they are abdicating their responsibility to the military, who should only be the last line of defence. So you see now that the first line of defence, which is the police, has left their job to the last line of defence, the military, who are now the ones doing what police ought to be doing.”
Asserting that the constitutional mandate of the military is the protection of Nigeria from external aggressions and insurrection, Omeje tasked the Nigerian Police Force and the intelligence agencies to go after terror sponsors, with the view to ending the over one-decade counterterrorism and anti-banditry war in Nigeria.
He said the government must go after the real cartel, the network that is behind those kidnappings and other insecurity.
He regretted that many are willing to join criminality because they are out of jobs.
He concluded that people don’t go to farms anymore, there’s unemployment everywhere, graduates who haven’t gotten jobs five years after graduation, and so many people that if we give them N5000, they will jump at it because they have starved for many days.
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Cross River State, Mr Alphonsus Ogah, said the only way to reverse the ugly security incidents in Nigeria is for President Tinubu to wield the big stick on those entrusted with the powers to address the insecurity and terrorism that have ruined the country’s image internationally.
Ogah, who spoke to ThisNigeria, reiterated the need for those at the forefront to be held accountable, especially those saddled with the responsibility of checking the atrocious crimes against humanity.
He said, “We made it very clear to Mr. President that no reasonable person will expect him as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to take up arms and go round the nooks and crannies of Nigeria to fight the criminal elements, bandits, kidnappers, and the armed robbers.
“That is why the constitution of Nigeria has created the security agencies saddled with this responsibility. We commended the efforts and contributions of Mr President in terms of moral boost, financial support for equipment procurement, and all others. The only added advice I gave him is that people at the forefront should be held accountable.
“I was very firm but with absolute humility in telling Mr President that district police officers, divisional police officers, Commissioners of police, DSS, or anybody on the front line of fighting and combating crime that is either lukewarm, taciturn, reticent, or pugnacious should please be shown the exit door.”
A lawyer, Bulama Bugatti, appealed to President Tinubu to act swiftly and defeat the insurgents, adding, “he should not by any means follow the footsteps of former President Buhari, under whose watch mass kidnapping of students from schools became a norm.
He advised President Tinubu to deploy artificial intelligence using drones and other advanced technologies.
He said, “President Tinubu has an opportunity to show these criminals who are proving stubborn that there is a new sheriff in town, and the way to do that is to pounce on them. Launch a heavy onslaught on them to show them that Nigeria is up to the task.
“Unless and until President Tinubu does this, he risks becoming like former president Buhari under whose watch mass kidnapping of students from schools became normalize in Nigeria.”
