According to the Nigerian Army, Okuoma community members “communally orchestrated” the deaths of its soldiers in Delta state.
Remember how angry teenagers in the state’s Bomadi and Okuoma towns massacred at least 15 troops in a communal fight over a land dispute?
On Thursday, while responding to a distress call, members of the 181 Amphibious Battalion were ambushed and killed.
In a statement released on Monday, the Army’s Director of Army Public Relations, Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, bemoaned the community’s reliance on propaganda in place of aid in apprehending the criminals.
According to Onyema, the use of propaganda demonstrated that the military deaths were the result of a “communally orchestrated attack against legitimate forces.”
An armed youth gang from Okuoma Community killed these troops in cold blood in the most horrific, callous, and cruel way possible. The statement goes on to say that the very people these troops were there to protect went on to sacrilegiously degrade their remains by ripping out their hearts. These troops were dedicated to maintaining peace and security of lives and property of citizens and non-citizens alike in the Niger Delta Region.
Sadly, rather of making a concerted effort to find the people responsible for this horrible crime, the community involved in it has turned to media manipulation and antics.
This demonstrates once again that the military killings were the result of a collectively planned assault on lawful forces.
“The lies being spread by these lawbreakers and their allies to incite emotions and influence the public to conceal, approve, or aid in the heinous crimes committed by their armed youth gang.”
Onyema, on the other hand, urged law-abiding individuals to carry out their daily routines fearlessly, promising them that there would be no backlash in the neighborhood.
He continued by saying that Lt Gen. Toareed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff, has ordered that those responsible be held accountable.
“While expressing condolences to the families of the officers and soldiers who lost their lives, Onyema has directed that no stone be left unturned until the individuals responsible for these heinous acts are apprehended and brought to justice,” Onyema stated. The troops are committed to apprehend these offenders. There’s definitely nowhere for them to hide.