March 19, (THEWILL)- The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has denied reports of reprisal attacks on Okuama community in Delta State following the killing of 16 Army personnel of the 181 Amphibious Battalion in the State last Thursday.
A statement by the director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, however, insisted there would be consequences for killing Service personnel on a peacekeeping mission.
Buba said the personnel were on a peace mission to Okuama when members of the community launched unprovoked attacks, killing the Commanding Officer of 181 Amphibious Battalion, two Majors, one Captain and 12 personnel of the battalion.
While noting misleading reports of reprisal attacks on the community were false, Buba said the community was deserted even before troops arrived at the scene.
“The military assures that there would be measured responses and injurious consequences for the perpetrators of this dastardly act.
“Nevertheless, the Armed Forces being a disciplined force that complies with rules of engagement, laws of armed conflict and the respect for human rights would be tempered by these provisions. We would not be led by emotions but by the rule of law,” he stated.
Buba urged those involved in peddling misinformation, disinformation and fake news that the military had embarked on reprisal attacks on the community following the incident to desist from further dishonouring the fallen heroes.
He called on the community leaders, elders and even the people of Delta State to assist in the investigation “to identify the perpetrators of the dastardly act so that they can be held accountable for their actions.”
While the military noted that the dispute between Okuama and Okoloba communities remains unresolved, “It, therefore, implies that there could be untoward activities not initiated by the military. Overall, there is no doubt that this is an extremely sad development and untoward activity by members of the Okuama community against troops that were there to protect them.”
Major General Buba urged the public to resist the temptation of allowing any video of the incident of the killed personnel to go viral.
“Their loved ones are still alive, even though they have died protecting our country and its citizens. It would be a dishonour to the fallen heroes to allow such ugly videos of their demise to go viral. Above all, as the military mourns, it remains ever determined to ensure the safety and security of citizens across the country,” he assured.
Similarly, the Nigerian Army has decried the propaganda against it over the incident in Okuama Community.
Denying any form of reprisal attacks in a statement by its Director Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, the army said resorting to propaganda by Okuama community in the face of the gruesome murder of troops on a peace mission is callous and condemnable.
The statement read: “The unfortunate killing of troops of 181 Amphibious Battalion of the Nigerian Army (NA), while on a peaceful and mediatory mission, after a reported case of a communal clash between Okuama and Okoloba Communities in Ughelli South and Bomadi LGAs of Delta State respectively, is not only despicable but should be unreservedly condemned by all.
“These were troops committed to peace and security of lives and property of citizens and non-citizens alike in the Niger Delta Region, murdered in cold blood by an armed youth gang of Okuama Community in the most gruesome, heartless and cruel manner and went ahead to sacrilegiously debase their remains by ripping out their hearts by the very people they were there to protect.
“Regrettably, the community complicit in this dastardly act has resorted to media propaganda and shenanigans, rather than engage in a positive effort to fish out the perpetrators of this heinous crime. This again is a clear indication that the murder of the troops was a communally orchestrated attack against legitimate forces.
“The falsehood being peddled by these criminals and their cohorts to whip up sentiments and sway the public to cover up, endorse or support the outrageous criminal acts of their armed youth gang should be disregarded in its entirety, it is only a ridiculous attempt at justifying their crime, rather than turn in themselves to security agencies. There is no amount of propaganda that would arm-twist the narrative, they are complicit and must be ready to face the wrath of the law.
“While law-abiding citizens are assured that there will be no reprisal on the part of the troops, we enjoin all to go about their normal activities, even as ongoing efforts are scaled up to positively identify and isolate the criminals to account for their atrocious deeds.
“The Chief of Army of Staff, Lt Gen Toareed Lagbaja, while commiserating with the families of the officers and soldiers who lost their lives, has directed that no stone should be left unturned until the perpetrators of this gruesome acts are apprehended to face the full wrath of the law. Troops are determined to get to these criminals, there is certainly no hiding place for them.”
Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters, on Monday, unveiled the identities of the Army personnel killed in Okuama community.
The DHQ gave the names of the slain Army officers and soldiers as Lt. Col. AH Ali (Commanding Officer, 181 Amphibious Battalion); Major SD Shafa; Major DE Obi; Capt. U Zakari, and Sgt. Yahaya Saidu.
Others included Cpl Yahaya Danbaba; Cpl Kabir Bashir; LCpl Bulus Haruna; LCpl Sole Opeyemi; LCpl Bello Anas; LCpl Hamman Peter; LCpl Ibrahim Abdullahi; Pte Alhaji Isah; Pte Clement Francis; Pte Abubakar Ali; Pte Ibrahim Adamu, and Pte Adamu Ibrahim.
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