In the wake of a brutal attack on Nigerian soldiers, the military has taken decisive action in the Okuama community of Ughelli South local government area in Delta State.
The recent killing of troops from the 181 Amphibious Battalion, who were on a rescue mission in the riverside community, has sparked outrage and a determined response from the military.
Following the deadly incident on Thursday, March 14, 2024, the military has deployed additional forces to the area, embarking on a relentless demolition of buildings within the community.
This move comes as a direct retaliation for the loss of their comrades, with the military making it clear that they are not planning to withdraw from the community anytime soon.
The situation escalated on Sunday, March 17, when the Nigerian military deployed armoured vehicles to Bomadi, the headquarters of Bomadi council, signaling a significant escalation in their response to the attack.
The presence of military personnel and armoured vehicles moving across the Bomadi bridge towards the creeks has been a stark reminder of the seriousness with which the military is taking the incident.
President Ahmed Bola Tinubu has ordered the military high command to track down and bring to justice those responsible for the killing of the officers. The military’s occupation of Okuama and the ongoing demolition of buildings are part of their efforts to assert control and send a strong message to the perpetrators and the community at large.
According to a community source, the military’s presence in Okuama is palpable, with numerous houses already demolished. “As I’m talking to you right now, soldiers are there, and they continue the demolition of buildings in the community, and I don’t think they would leave so soon,” the source revealed.
The head of personnel management for Ughelli South LGA, Mr. Austin Emaduku, has declined to comment on the potential humanitarian crisis that may arise from the military’s actions in the council area.
The attack on the soldiers has been widely condemned, with Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 and 2023 elections, stating that “there can never be a justification for a premeditated killing of soldiers on a legitimate assignment.”
As the military continues its occupation and demolition campaign in Okuama, the Delta State community remains tense, awaiting the next developments in this unfolding saga of retribution and justice.
