The military high command has made some gains and advances in its quest to unravel masterminds in the attack at Okuama, Delta State where officers and men of the armed forces were killed, as they have recovered weapons of the slain soldiers that were carted away by the attackers in an ambush.
The recovery has inched them closer to unraveling those that carried out the dastardly attack as some dismembered organs of the victims and parts allegedly removed from them have been recovered.
Pointing to positive application of intelligence with the recoveries, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), therefore, declared that there was no hiding place for the killers of 18 senior officers and soldiers in Okuama.
It said the viral video of a suspect, who claimed to have masterminded the killing had hanged the direction of the investigation and narrowed the investigation to persons of interest.
A male suspect in a viral video had claimed responsibility for the killing insinuating that the military personnel took sides in the conflict between two communities in the area.
Defence Headquarters (DHQ) also called on the Delta State government and the host communities to provide assistance to ensure that the culprits were fished out.
An update on the attack issued by Defence Headquarters said there was no hiding place for the perpetrators.
“Troops have continued a manhunt for the perpetrators of the barbaric killing of 18 soldiers that occurred on 14 Mar 24.
“Accordingly, clearance operations as well as cordon and search were conducted to among other things recover the weapons of the deceased soldiers”, it said.
It stated that “some of the communities in which troops have operated are Akugbene, Ukuama and Okoloba Communities in Ugheli and Ugheli South of Delta State.
“Others include Ukuama Amusamo, Akwagbe, Arhavwarien, Pirigbene and Igbomatoro communities all in Delta State.
“The decomposing hearts of some of the killed soldiers were recovered during search while the manhunt continues with no significant arrest yet made”.
The update issued by the Director, Defence Media Operations (DDMO), Maj Gen Edward Buba, said the armed forces will continue to confront the challenge of insecurity.
“Significantly, there is a viral video of person admitting to have perpetrated the killings of the soldier in Delta State. The video among other things helps to narrow investigations to persons of interest and their cohorts.
“Accordingly, the state governments and host communities of these personalities are required to assist the ongoing investigation to flush them out.
“There can be no hiding place for perpetrators of such dastardly act against our nation. This is a clarion call to duty by members of those communities and the state government”, it said.
Continuing, the statement said “the ongoing counter-insurgency and counter terrorist operation across the country is a fight for our sovereignty and territorial integrity of the nation. Troops would continue to put themselves in harm’s way in order protect and secure the citizens of this country.
“Consequent upon these operations, troops rescued several kidnapped hostages re-united them with their loved ones. Troops also disrupted untoward activities of terrorist, thereby preventing them from carrying out acts of terror or harming citizens”.
