Military troops on gunboats have besieged Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, where sixteen soldiers were killed during a fracas with some irate youths from the area.
It was gathered that the soldiers believed to be from the joint task force, 6 division of the Nigerian Army, stormed Okuama community on Sunday and razed down part of the community.
The soldiers were reportedly shelling from their gunboats directly into the community, apparently in retaliation for the dastardly ambushing and killing of their colleagues, who were said to be on a peace mission following the communal clash between Okuama and Okoloba communities, which broke out on Thursday, March 14, 2024.
This is coming as soldiers led by the General Officer Commanding 6 division Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, intensified manhunt for those responsible for the deadly killing of the military personnel.
On Sunday evening, troops of the Nigerian Army combed the nearby Urhobo communities in search of arms and expanded their operation towards Olota community, which is said to be a soft target.
Many residents of the coastal community have fled to neighboring Ughelli for fear of reprisals by the soldiers who have been patrolling the creeks.
Meanwhile, some Okuama residents have denied the killing of soldiers, alleging rather that hundreds of people were killed between Thursday and Friday by persons wearing Army uniforms who invaded the community.
An indigene of Okuama community, who simply gave his name as Onajite Idiaphoro, in an interview with newsmen, said the men who invaded the community were mercenaries working for a private security company.
He alleged, “We were holding our regular Community meeting on Thursday when some men in Army uniforms, carried by on a gunboat used by this private security company invaded the meeting demanding to see our community chairman.
“As soon as our chairman was identified, the men said that they were taking him to Bomadi for questioning but the community women resisted the approach because Okuama is under Ughelli South Local Government Area and the chairman did not commit any crime neither the community that demands military invasion.
“The men started shooting killing two persons instantly and injuring many persons before driving away.”
Mr Idiaphoro said that after the first shooting, residents of the community, especially the men started moving out fearing the worst could happen later.
“After four hours later, the men came back with many gunboats, shooting sporadically into the community and killing many persons including women and children before burning houses,” he lamented.
“How our people who are mere fishermen and potato farmers have guns to fight, talk less killed a whole 15 Army officers as wrongly reported? he queried in a emotion laden voice.
Continuing, Idiaphoro bursted into tears saying, “Okuama community has been at the receiving end of the crisis with Okoloba, accusing a former NIMASA boss for being responsible for the onslaught.
He, however, called on President Bola Tinubu, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, and the Chief of Army Staff to immediately halt the invasion of their community and set up a panel of inquiry to unravel the true killers of the reported 15 soldiers.
