The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lt. Gen. Christopher Musa, yesterday said the siege by the federal troops on Okuama community, the scene of the killing of 17 soldiers of the Nigerian Army in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State would be sustained until the ongoing military operations in the area are concluded.
Musa, in reviewing the efforts of the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) to arrest suspected killers of the troops and recover arms and ammunition snatched from the slain soldiers, said the troops would not vacate the community until what he termed “cordon and search” of the Urhobo community was concluded by the DHQ.
Musa made the revelation in an interview with ARISE TV, on Wednesday, amidst widespread public outcry against the endless military operation in Okuama and its neighbouring communities in Bayelsa and Delta states.
Stakeholders have demanded an end to the military exercise to enable the natives of Okuama and adjoining communities to return home to resume their normal life in the aftermath of the March 14 bloodbath, in which four officers and 12 soldiers of the Nigerian Army were killed in yet to be unravelled circumstances.
Musa’s appearance on the television station came on the heels of the demand by Lagos lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, for access to the detained traditional ruler of Ewu-Urhobo kingdom, HRM Clement Ikolo, Urukpe 1, who surrendered himself to the police on Thursday and was subsequently turned in to DHQ on Friday, for interrogation, in connection with the fate of the fallen soldiers.
Okuama is one of the 17 communities under the traditional authority of the embattled monarch.
The Commanding Officer of 181 Batallion of the Nigerian Army, Bomadi, the headquarters of Bomadi LGA of Delta state, Lt. Col. A. H. Ali, Major S.D. Shafa, Major D.E. Obi, Captain U. Zakari and 12 other soldiers, who were on peace-keeping and mediatory mission in Okuama, were murdered by suspected indigenes of the community, on March 14, 2024, in circumstances currently under security scrutiny.
Eight persons, including the embattled monarch, were declared wanted by DHQ in connection with the dastardly act.
In the ARISE TV interview, Musa said, “the Army is conducting a cordon-and-search in Okuama. The residents will return when we are done. They will gain access to their homes when we finish the cordon and search operations, because we know they have a lot of weapons bought from crude oil theft.
“During the disarmament exercise, that was conducted, a lot of them didn’t hand over their weapons. And also, due to closeness of the riverine areas with other countries, they have found ways to bring in weapons.
“Their access to weapons made them able to perpetrate the crime. It’s for us to thoroughly clean the community to ensure no weapons or explosives are left behind and no one is hiding.
“At the end of it (cordon-and-search), the natives will go back and rebuild. We’re working together with the community; nobody is doing anything to infringe on their rights.
“Also, since it’s an ongoing operation, we wouldn’t want them to come in and be shot or be mistaken for antagonists. We’re duty-bound to protect them. As soon as we’re done with the cordon-and-search, they’ll go back,” he said, claiming that the traditional leaders know the identity of the killers.dddddd
“Those communities’ leaders know the criminals. And some of them benefit from these acts of criminality. If they say they don’t know them or are not aware of them, they are far from the truth. Investigations will unravel this. The cordon-and-search is temporary and will be over in due course,” Musa added.
Meanwhile, Falana, in a letter to Musa, demanded to meet with the detained monarch who has been in the custody of DHQ for six days.
In seeking an audience with the monarch, Falana lamented that his family members were apprehensive about his safety and state of health.
The letter was signed by Marshal Abubakar on behalf of Falana & Falana Chambers reads.
The letter dated Tuesday, April 2nd, 2024, reads partly,“We act as counsel to the family of HRM, King Clement Ikolo Ogbeneruvwe, hereinafter our clients and on their express behest we write.
“Permit me to express our heartfelt condolences to the military authorities and the families of the gallant soldiers of the Nigerian Army who lost their lives in the needless and dastardly attack on them in Delta State.
“Their death is indeed a national monumental loss, we all regret and we pray God Almighty grant their gallant souls eternal rest.
“As you may no doubt be aware, His Royal Highness, King Clement Ikolo Ogbeneruvwe (who was declared wanted by military authorities) turned himself in penultimate week to security agents.
“The families are, however, worried about his safety and where about as they have not been able to access him.
“We hereby request for an audience with our client, HRM, King Clement Ikolo Ogbeneruvwe in the presence of the military authorities, personnel or agent (s)
“Whilst assuring you of our commitment and assistance in getting justice for the slain patriotic soldiers and their families, please accept as usual our kind and warm regards, always.”
“During the disarmament exercise that was conducted, a lot of them didn’t hand over all they had. And because it is in the riverine area close to other countries, they have ways that they also bring in weapons. It was because they had weapons, they were able to perpetrate this.
“So, it is for us to thoroughly clean this community and ensure that no weapons, no explosives, nothing is left there, and that none of them is hiding.
“I’m happy with the traditional ruler that submitted himself, which is the best thing. I wish all those other ones that were in the pictures will also equally do the same.
“We are not animals. We are not barbaric… If they had not touched our armed forces, nobody would have been there. We have lived peacefully with them, we have encouraged them, and we conduct civil military relationships. If you go to most of the communities, we provide amenities for them, just to show them that we are not an occupational army; we are the Nigerian Armed Forces. And we are here for Nigeria to ensure that Nigeria is peaceful,” he said.
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