Okuama killings: Killers on March 14 dressed in military fatigues — eyewitness

A witness to the killing of soldiers on March 14 at Okuama in Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State, has disclosed that the gunmen had military camouflage. They arrived at the community’s riverside with four speedboats from the Bomadi axis and started shooting at both soldiers and villagers.

The witness, an Okuama native who spoke only to Vanguard, claimed that on March 14, when the troops initially arrived in the village, they wanted to see the chairman, who subsequently arrived from the farm. Before taking him to the water’s edge, they amused them. When the women objected, however, they opened fire.

Her words: “They insisted on going with him (the chairman); they dragged him with others. We held them and dragged them back. From there, the army started shooting, and some villagers fell, and there was a commotion.”

“We later heard that as the soldiers were going to the jetty, other boats with people wearing soldiers’ uniforms came and they started shooting everyone, which is how they killed the soldiers and our people.”

She claimed, however, that because the gunmen were dressed like soldiers, she was unable to recognise them, so she fled into the jungle with her kids and other survivors, fearing for their lives.

“It was when they started shooting again that we fled into this bush with our children; we have not seen some of our children since then. We have been suffering in this bush since March 14.

“We do everything inside this bush. There is no food or drugs, and I have worn this single wrapper since that day. We are hungry and suffering. Two of my children are with me; I do not know where my husband is. I do not know where the other children are, everyone is scattered, whether they are dead now, we do not know.

“We do not know when we will return to Okuama; our businesses have crumbled, and everything is gone. We cannot do anything inside the bush now. I do not know whether my children are amongst those killed; there is no one to ask.”

How I escaped from Okuama waterside on March 14: Speedboat driver

The Army dragged the Okuama community chair, who refused to accompany them to the waterside, according to a speedboat driver employed by the military at the Gbaregolor community waterside for the operation on March 14. This information was previously provided to Vanguard. Bullets were firing in all directions as they made him get into their boat.He said: “An elderly woman dressed entirely in aquatic gear emerged from the neighbourhood before the shooting occurred and peered at us for a while before returning to the neighbourhood and reciting a spell. A few minutes later, an older male dressed similarly arrived at the same location, looked at us, and gave the same performance as the older woman.

“After this scenario, the commander and his men started coming to the shore with the community chairman. At this moment, I got ready to start my engine just like my colleagues, but the engines refused to start as all efforts were to no avail. At this point, I realized that the problem had come after witnessing the incantation by the old woman and the man.

“As the bullets started coming, the soldiers tried to respond, but none of their guns answered, and immediately, I dived into the river. Suddenly, one of the engines started, and some soldiers jumped into it, then the driver sped out of the community and carried me from the river.

“I do not know what he did to start his engine. Two of the soldiers in the boat sustained severe bullet wounds and were taken to the Bomadi General Hospital. The information then was that the JTF commander and one other officer were held hostage,” he said.

Source explains how they deceived and killed Lt Colonel

The soldiers that were mobilised from Agbarho were tricked and killed, according to an insider who was present during the reinforcement that resulted in the houses at Okuama being set on fire.