By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
The Senate yesterday commenced the probe of the March 14th killing of 16 Nigerian military personnel in the Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.
The upper chamber consequently mandated that its Army, Defence, Air Force, Navy, and National Security committees immediately commence the investigation.
During yesterday’s plenary, the Senate’s decision followed a point of order raised by Sen. Abdulaziz Yar’Adua (APC—Katsina).
The motion was tagged, “The killing of Nigerian Army Personnel in Okuama Community, Delta State and the Necessity for an Urgent Investigation.”
The upper chamber also urged the Federal Government to ensure that those responsible for the heinous crime were identified, apprehended, and brought to face the full consequences of their action through a fair and transparent legal process.
Raising Orders 41 and 51 of the Senate Standing Rules, Yar’Adua, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, described the incident as “a serious threat to national security and stability of the nation.”
“The recent tragic incident in Okuama Community, Bomadi LGA of Delta on Thursday, March 14, resulted in the loss of a commanding officer, two majors, a captain, and 12 soldiers during a peace mission. This highlights a serious threat to national security and the nation’s stability.
“The tragic incidence underscores the urgent need for justice and accountability without resorting to retribution.”
He lamented that the understaffing of the Nigeria Police has made Nigeria’s Military to take over internal policing duties such as organised crime, oil theft, communal crisis, kidnappings, banditry and other policing responsibilities.
Yar’Adua further said there was a critical requirement for a more streamlined and deliberate collaboration between the armed forces and law enforcement agencies on one side and the Nigerian populace and communities on the other.
“This collaboration is essential to fostering trust, enhancing security measures, and promoting a sense of shared responsibility in preventing such tragedies in the future.”
In his contribution, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau said what happened was despicable.
Barau said, “It is inhuman and cannot be accepted. We must commiserate with the Nigerian Armed Forces and the entire nation.
“We also need to sympathize with the immediate families of the fallen heroes and the Nigerian Military for what happened.
“It should be condemned; what happened is inhuman, and no stone should be left unturned in trying to find out the culprits who are responsible. they must face justice, which should never happen again in this country.”
Similarly, Senator Ahmad Lawan said that the Military needed support at all times, not such an incidence that occurred in Delta.
“What happened in Delta was not an accident but well-orchestrated to kill our men,” he said.
He also called on the Executive and the Legislature to ensure better welfare for the Military.
On his part, Senator Seriake Dickson (PDP-Bayelsa) described the act as sad and cruel, calling for an inquiry to ascertain the facts.
He said, “Let us direct the appropriate committee to go into this matter and then give us a full report; let’s know what happened.”
*Akpabio: I don’t think killers are from Niger Delta
In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, said that the entire Senate and the society were concerned.
He said, “We condemn this cowardly act. It portends danger for the entire society. Every single culprit involved must be brought out to face the full wrath of the law. This is not acceptable in any sane society in the world.”
Senator Edeh Dafinone (APC-Delta), who seconded the motion, consoled the military command and the families of the slain soldiers.
He said since the motion centred on the same issue, he would only propose an additional prayer of a minute silence for innocent civilians killed.
Senator Ned Nwoko (PDP Delta North) seconded Dafinone’s additional prayer, calling for a minute silence for innocent victims of the soldiers’ invasion after their colleagues were murdered.
His proposal was, however, rejected by the Senate President, who said holding a minute silence for civilian casualties or victims of collateral damages would come after a thorough investigation had been carried out on what led to the tragic and very embarrassing incident.”
Akpabio said, “Senators
Dafinone and Ned Nwoko’s prayer for a minute silence for innocent civilian casualties would be taken after the investigation of the dastardly act.
“See, I don’t want you to conclude, I do not believe that these people are from Niger Delta, those who do the killings, because we respect men and women in uniform.
“That is why I am saying that your additional prayer should be to carry out a thorough investigation to know whether these people are mercenaries from outside Niger Delta who came to commit this crime because I don’t think these people are Niger Deltans.
“We are not at war to lose such a number of personnel. No community will go to the extent of doing this kind of thing. I don’t think they are from Niger Delta.
“So, the first point is that we should first establish the culprits who committed this crime; we must take this seriously.
“Supposing they are not from Niger Delta, supposing they are not even Nigerians, and we now come and be giving relief materials. People should bear the consequences of their characters; we will not support relief materials.
“What has happened is condemnable and stand condemned. The Senate will hold a minute silence for the 16 military personnel gruesomely murdered and condole with President Bola Tinubu, the Military, and the family of the deceased for now.
“After investigation, civilians involved in the collateral damage will be honored by minute silence or whatever action may be necessary.
Buttressing the Senate President’s position, Senator Seriake Dickson (PDP- Bayelsa West) said there was no need for moral equivalence.
He said, “What happened in the Okuama community in Delta State last Thursday was very bad as regards the killing of the military personnel.
“An inquiry needs to be conducted by the Senate for us to have the totality of facts on what happened before proceeding to moral equivalence in the form of a minute silence for innocent civilians,” he said.
Killing, assault on security, stability of N’ Delta region- Lawan
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence, Senator Ahmad Lawan, has said the killing of at least 16 military personnel in the Okuama community of Delta State was an assault on the security and stability of the Niger Delta region.
Lawan, in a statement, expresses sadness at the number of lives lost and properties destroyed following the crisis which ensued between Okuama and Okoloba communities.
He called on the Nigerian military and security agencies to take urgent action to investigate the killings, bring the perpetrators to justice, and restore peace and order to the area.
The former Senate President tasked the people of the Okuama community with providing useful information that would lead to the arrest of the culprits behind the heinous act.
The statement reads, “The Senate Committee on Defence strongly condemns the killing of military personnel in Okuama, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State on Thursday, March 14, 2023.
“The Committee mourns the death of a commanding officer, two Majors, one Captain, twelve soldiers, and a civilian who were killed while the Military was responding to a crisis between Okuama and Okoloba communities.
“This heinous act of violence perpetrated by the attackers on our troops is a direct assault on the security and stability of the Niger Delta region. We are deeply saddened by the loss of lives and the destruction inflicted on the community.
“We call on the relevant authorities, including the Nigerian Military and security agencies, to take urgent action to bring the perpetrators to justice and restore peace and order to the area. We urge them to conduct a thorough investigation, apprehend the attackers, and prosecute them to the full extent of the law.
“We also urge the people of Okuama to provide helpful information that will lead to the arrest of the culprits who are out to destabilise the region’s peace, security, and stability.
“Furthermore, we demand that the federal government provide adequate support to the families of those killed. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. We stand in solidarity with the people of Okuama and call for an end to the violence and impunity that has plagued their community.”
*Reprisal: We’re managing the tension, says Oborevwori
Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, yesterday said that the state is managing the tension occasioned by the alleged reprisal attacks over the killing of 16 soldiers and officers in Okuama, Delta State.
The governor also said that the situation is under control, assuring that there will be no more attacks in the respective communities involved.
This came as Governor Oborevwori briefed President Bola Tinubu on the gruesome murder of the 16 soldiers and officers in the Okuama community.
Briefing State House correspondents after meeting behind closed doors with President Tinubu, the Delta State governor declined to confirm the report of reprisal attacks allegedly carried out by the Military and the number of casualties, saying that being a security issue, there are certain things he cannot say in the public.
He said he met with the security heads in Bomadi on Monday but has yet to meet with the community involved because the place where the incident occurred is entirely deserted.
According to Oborevwori, “You know the happenings in Delta State since the 14th of this month, and it is necessary for me to brief the Commander-in-Chief, and that’s what I’ve come to do, the full details of what happened.
“People may have not learned what we’re doing since I came on board. Since last year, we’ve been enjoying peace in Delta State, and we commend all the security agencies, but an unfortunate thing happened last week: people who don’t know have started talking.
“The two communities in question have been having the issue for years, and last month, on the 7th of February, the state government invited them. The two communities, the members representing those two local governments, the council chairpersons, and the leaders of those communities agreed to work together and signed a peace accord.
“When this unfortunate thing happened, it was sad because Delta State is governed within the tenets of the rule of law and decency. So what happened is not in line with what we’re doing in Delta State because I have promised Deltans that I’m going to be governor for all Deltans. We’ve been enjoying peace, and one of my MORE Agenda is that we’ll enhance peace and security, and that’s what we’ve been doing.
“So I decided to come here to brief Mr. President on all the things we’ve been doing to maintain peace, and Mr. President has assured me that he’s in support of the peace, and we both condemned the killing of the officers and the soldiers because they were there on a peace mission.
“What is happening now is something that we did not bargain for, but we want to assure everybody that there’ll be no more attacks on the villages if there’s been anyone that had happened in the past… but we know that those who are culpable will be brought to book, but the innocent citizens will not be attacked.”
Asked to comment on the alleged reprisal attack even though the Military has denied any involvement and as well provide information as to what exactly is going on in Okuama and those behind the burning down of the village, he said that the issue is a security matter which should not be discussed publicly.
He said, “When something happens like this, it’s always easy to manage tension. Yesterday (Monday), I was in that local government. I was in Bomadi for a security meeting to get full details and a briefing.
“So some of those issues are security issues that you can’t say publicly, that’s the truth, and we’re managing the situation. So the issue of whether a place has been burned down or people have been killed has happened, but what is the way forward?
“The way forward are two ways; the people that have been killed, the officers and soldiers, we must see how we can find succor for their families and give them a befitting burial. Also, the community, anything that has happened in the community in the past will not happen again, we assure them, but the guilty people will be brought to book.
“Like I said, we’re still on it. By the time I get back, I’ll have more details.”
Fielding questions on whether he has been able to meet with the community to ascertain the number of casualties recorded in the attack and the alleged reprisal, he said, “First and foremost, the community people… the place has been deserted, so the issue of whether we’ve been able to see the community leaders, no.
“We’ve only gotten a full briefing from the Army, and we’re on it because the traditional council will meet and discuss it this week. I will invite stakeholders; we’re. We’re on top of it.”
Further asked to give the number of people that were reported dead when he met with the Military on Monday, he said, “You know the terrain of that place, the Okuama terrain, you must go by boat. Where I visited was Bomadi.”
He further explained, “As I said, we had a meeting yesterday with the security heads, where the General Officer Commanding of 6 Division was there, and the JTF Commander was in attendance. We’ve all agreed; all the security agencies are putting heads together. We’re on the same page to fish out the real culprits because innocent people will not suffer for it, and they have assured us that no innocent person will be victimised.”
