Following the deaths of sixteen military personnel in the Okuama community in Delta state, a former coordinator of defense media operations named Major General John Enenche claimed that communities should refrain from opposing military operations if the murderers did not turn themselves in. He maintained that communities shouldn’t fight to maintain their own survival under any circumstances.
He highlighted the significance of handling such situations with care and cooperation from both sides. He recounted an incident where troops encountered resistance from kidnappers in a forest. And as a result, the troops from Operation West Stroke were compelled to use force, resulting in the neutralization of the criminal ringleader.
He said in an interview with Arise TV, ”What can be done to avert leveling is to ensure that the appropriate intelligence is brought out. And then, if the criminals do not submit themselves, the community must not resist the military operation for whatever reasons. Let them not resist so that they can exist.
It depends on how it’s handled on both sides now. Because from a recent experience we had, I am consulting for a community where they had a lot of security challenges. On getting into the forest where the kidnappers are, they resisted. And what happened, the troops from Operation West Stroke had to open fire. And in the course of the defense, the kingpin was neutralized and that was how peace now came to that area for about two months. It is training and it is best practice in any operation.”
