On the killing of soldiers in Delta State

The killing of 17 soldiers in the Okuama community of Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State on Saturday, March 16 2024, is a despicable act worthy of condemnation by all and sundry. According to the Nigerian Army, the victims include a Lieutenant Colonel, two Majors, one Captain, one Staff Sergeant, two corporals, five Lance Corporals and five Privates, who were on a peace keeping mission in the community.

Not only were they ambushed and murdered in cold blood, but their corpses were mutilated, with some decapitated; while others had their hearts and stomachs ripped out in a shocking and vicious manner. This is most disheartening and an indication that not enough has been done to tame the youth violence that has been ravaging the region for decades.

According to the Director Defence Information Brigadier-General Tukur Gusau, “The unfortunate incident occurred when the troops responded to a distress call after the communal crisis between the Okuoma and Okoloba communities both in Delta State.

“The reinforcement team led by the Commanding officer was also attacked, leading to the death of the commanding officer, two Majors, one Captain and 12 Soldiers.

“The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa has directed the immediate investigation and arrest of those involved in the heinous crime. The occurrence has been reported to the Delta State government.

“However, the military remains focused and committed to its mandate of maintaining peace and security in the country. So far, a few arrests have been made while steps in place to unravel the motive behind the attack.”

We, at Daily Trust, wholeheartedly denounce this heinous crime which smacks of utter disrespect to constituted authority. Certainly, it is the height of folly for armed criminals to shed the blood of soldiers whose only intention was to make their community safer. Indeed this tragic occurrence is a heavy loss to the nation as the cost of training an army officer is considerable. Apart from the training, the late soldiers passed through, a lot of them had performed well in many hotspots across the country. For example, the slain Lieutenant Colonel A H Ali was the mastermind behind the retaking of Dikwa and Marte communities in Borno State from Boko Haram fighters. He also led his troops in clearing bandits and kidnappers hideouts across Niger and Kaduna states.

While we mourn this irreparable losses, we call on the Nigerian Army to respect human rights in its bid to fish out the culprits from the creeks without resorting to reprisal attacks. We also ask all well-meaning community members to prevail on the perpetrators to surrender themselves and take measures to prevent reoccurrence. They should also collaborate with the authorities in stemming the proliferation of arms in the community. This will go a long way in ensuring peaceful coexistence and minimizing outbreaks of violence whenever disputes arise.

Daily Trust also urges the Delta State government to take urgent measures to resolve the communal land dispute that led to the intervention of the soldiers. The Okuoma and Okoloba land dispute, which flared in January 2024, has been ongoing for a long time. The government should make all efforts to resolve the dispute via peaceful means without resorting to military intervention.

We also urge the Ministry of Defence in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and National Orientation to embark on a deliberate and intentional campaign to make Nigerians understand that soldiers are their protectors rather than enemies.