In response to 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 the military could destroy a community if the populace refused to provide them with the information they needed to identify the perpetrators. Furthermore, he said, armed resistance during an attempt at arrest can enhance the risk of a violent altercation between criminals and security guards.
In light of these factors, he emphasized the importance of collaboration between communities and security agencies to prevent such drastic measures as leveling. He stressed the need for communities to cooperate with authorities by providing information and avoiding armed resistance during arrest operations.
Many Nigerians have been worried about what would be the military response after 16 soldiers were beheaded in the Okuama community in Delta state. Although the military has denied the allegations that some of their personnel razed down some houses in Okuama.
However, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given the leadership of the armed forces a marching order to investigate and uncover those behind the killings of the soldiers who went on a peacekeeping mission to the Okuama community.
He said in an interview with Arise TV, ”When you are talking about leveling. What leads to leveling is when people refuse to give information to the military and security agencies to pick out the criminals. Secondly, if the information is given and there is armed resistance to arrest.
What do I mean by armed resistance? As you are coming to arrest them, they are now coming to repel you. What do you do in that situation as a security person? This for me are the two things that lead to leveling and it can be averted.”
