Why we can’t let residents of Okuama community access their homes now – CDS

General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff has explained why residents of Okuama in Delta State still do not have access to their homes days after the military took over the settlement.

The CDS spoke on a day when Mr. Clement Koki, chairman of the Okoloba community in Delta State, said that the residents of Okuama hired the mercenaries who killed the military personnel in the riverside hamlet.

Remember that the Okuama and Okoloba communities were involved in a communal fight prior to the killing of the military troops.

Gen Musa told Arise TV that troops were currently executing a cordon and search operation in the village (because the rifles and ammunition of the dead in action troops had not been retrieved).

On March 14, furious adolescents suspected of being Okuama villagers, collaborating with other suspects, ambushed and murdered the Commanding Officer of the 181 Army Amphibious Battalion, two majors, one captain, and 13 troops. According to the Defence Headquarters, the troops were ambushed while responding to a distress call caused by a fight between the Okuama and Okoloba villages in Delta State.

Defence Headquarters has proclaimed eight people wanted in connection with the gruesome murder of service members.

Gen Musa claimed that Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and inhabitants of Okuama, where the incident occurred, are unable to enter the community because security agents are conducting a “cordon and search” operation in the region.

He also stated that the Nigerian Army was not abusing its authority by designating some people wanted in connection with the deaths of the 17 officers and troops.

“We are currently conducting a cordon and search in the community. Cordon and search operation means we are searching every nook and cranny within the community because they have a lot of illegal funds from crude oil theft.

“They have bought a lot of weapons. It is for us to thoroughly clean the community to ensure that no weapon, no explosive is left in the community. I can tell you that at the end of the operation, residents of the community will always go back,” he said.

Meanwhile, Okoloba community has accused Okuama of being behind the killing of officers and men of the Nigerian Army in their domain.

Okoloba counters Okuama

Chairman of the Okoloba community, Mr. Clement Koki, enmeshed in a communal row with the Okuama community, where 17 soldiers lost their lives on March 14, has alleged the people of Okuama hired the mercenaries who killed the military men in the riverside settlement.

Okoloba, an Ijaw community in Bomadi Local Government Area Delta State, shares a boundary with Okuama, an Urhobo community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of state.

Chairman of the Okoloba community, Clement Koki, who reacted to the account of an Okuama leader detailing how soldiers and villagers died in the community, and how an Okoloba leader escorted the Army to the community on March 14, exclusively published by Vanguard on April 2, maintained that the narration was “full of fabricated lies and complicity”

Oborevwori should speak to Deltans on Okuama/Okoloba incident – Dr Ughwanogho

In a similar development, former governorship candidate in the state, Dr. Ovie Ughwanogho, has urged the governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, to address the state on update around the Okuama and Okoloba boundary dispute that resulted in the killing of 17 soldiers

Ughwanogho, on his Facebook wall, said: “The governor of Delta State should, without further delay, address the people of the state on the security situation in the state, particularly as it relates to the crisis in Okuama and Okoloba.
“The state belongs to all of us, and in a crisis like this, the leadership must keep the people informed of what is happening and the efforts being made to resolve the issues.