Tension As Army Makes Major Demand From Delta Community Where Soldiers Were Killed, Issues Fresh Directive

The Army has issued a demand to the Okuoma community in Delta State to identify the perpetrators behind the killing of its officers and men.

In a social media post titled “Rest in Peace our Fallen Heroes,” the Army clarified that the number of fallen heroes was 17, not 16 as initially reported.

Among the slain were four officers and 13 soldiers. These are Lt. Col. A.H Ali, Maj Safa, Maj D.E Obi, and Cap U. Zakari. The soldiers are Staff Sergeant Yahaya Saidu, Corporal Yahaya Danbaba, Corporal Kabir Bashir, Lance Corporals Bulus Haruna, Sole Opeyemi, Bello Anas, Haman Peter and Ibrahim Abdullahi. The rest are Privates Alhaji Isah, Clement Francis, Abubakar Ali, Ibrahim Adamu and Adamu Ibrahim.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu condemned the killings and authorized the military to bring the perpetrators to justice, stating, “The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) and Chief of Defence Staff (Gen. Christopher Musa) have been granted full authority to bring to justice anybody found to have been responsible for this unconscionable crime against the Nigerian people.”

The DHQ and Army ruled out reprisals and warned against propaganda. Defence Spokesman Maj. Gen. Edward Buba emphasized, “The senseless and barbaric killings of these men is a tragedy. They were killed in a dehumanised and unspeakable manner.”

Both the DHQ and Army reaffirmed their commitment to upholding the rule of law and urged the public to cooperate with the investigation while mourning the loss of the fallen heroes.

But it also warned of consequences, “However, the ugly incident in Okuama Community in Delta State is indicative of the dangers our gallant troops experience in order to secure our nation. “The military assures that there would be measured responses and injurious consequences for the perpetrators of these dastardly acts.