The panel convened on Wednesday at the Governor’s Office Annex in Warri South Local Government Area of the state.

The meeting, which was scheduled for 2.00 p.m., however, started at about 3.45 p.m. with six stakeholders from the Okoloba Community, Bomadi Local Government Area, in attendance.

The Okuama Community was, however, not represented.

The Director-General, Political and Security Services in Delta, Mr David Tonwe, who ushered the Okoloba stakeholders into the meeting room, however, told newsmen they were not permitted to be part of the meeting.

The slain soldiers, made up of a Commanding Officer, two Majors, a Captain, and 13 others, were said to have been ambushed and murdered on March 14.

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They were said to have been responding to the crisis between Okoloba and Okuama communities which had allegedly been engaged in an age-long land dispute.

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta had on Friday received the military board at the governor’s office annex, where he called for a transparent investigation into the killings.

The governor, who assured the panel that the state government would provide them with useful information, however, noted that innocent citizens should not be made to suffer any further.

“We will also come up with our position paper to submit to you people before you leave.

“That will guide you on the role that we have played as a state because if we do not come with this position paper, you will not know the role that the state has played,” the governor said.

Earlier, on Friday, chairman of the board of inquiry, AVM David Ajayi, said the panel was in the state to investigate the unfortunate incident that happened at Okuama.

“We are here on a fact-finding mission and not to apportion blame. We are here to gather facts from security agencies, community leaders, and community dwellers.

“This report will also help to ensure healthy communication that will enhance civil-military relations and ensure that economic activities thrive again in the affected communities,” he said.

Ajayi, however, called on the governor to assist the board in its assignment to ensure that relevant stakeholders were invited to give accounts of what led to the crisis.

The board is expected to be in Bayelsa on Friday in continuation of its assignment.

Source: NAN

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Describing the reports as defamatory, he therefore called for a retraction of the claims and a public apology from the media behind the report.

In two separate letters dated April 4, 2024 written by his lawyer, Eric K Omare, a principal partner in the law firm of E K Omare & Co, Akpobolokemi demanded immediate retraction of the false and libelous publications and a public apology in three national newspapers or face a N50 billion law suit.

The lawyer said defamatory publication had has exposed Akpobolokemi to ridicule and public opprobrium, adding that his client had been portrayed as a promoter of communal war and not worthy to be entrusted with and treated as a leader anywhere in Nigeria.

He added that considering the wide readership of the false and libelous publications, his personal and business reputation had been seriously injured.

He stated that Akpobolokemi had never promoted tribal or communal wars and was never involved in the movement or deployment of soldiers that were murdered at Okuama community on March 16, 2024.

“The said publication, which implies that our client is a promoter of tribal and communal war is not only false, but also malicious, inciting, defamatory and unjustifiable.

“Our client did not take soldiers to Okuama community to teach them a lesson as you ‘falsely and unjustifiable published or at all. Our client is a private citizen and not a member of the Armed Forces with power to move or deploy soldiers or any personnel of the military, paramilitary or at all.

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“Our client is a peaceful and reputable community leader; a former Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and has promoted and continued to promote peaceful co-existence among communities over the years.

“Our client as DG of NIMASA related with Nigerians from all over the country and treated all Nigerians who he came across in that capacity, as brothers and sisters without acrimony. Our client has, over the past decades promoted peaceful existence in Nigeria in both his public and private lives and has not been found wanting in that regard.

“By reason of your defamatory publication, our client has been exposed to ridicule and public opprobrium and he is now seen as a promoter of communal war and not worthy to be entrusted with and treated as a leader anywhere in Nigeria Considering the wide readership of your aforesaid false and libelous publication, our client’s personal and business reputation has been seriously injured.

“Consequently, and without prejudice to our client’s right to seek legal redress under the relevant laws, we have his instructions to demand from you, the immediate retraction of your false and libellous publication and a public apology to be published in three national newspapers including in your X handle for seven consecutive days, within one week of the receipt of this letter.

“Take notice that should you fail to comply with the demand to retract your false and libelous publication and tender a public apology to our client within one week of the receipt/notice of this letter, our client would have no option than to seek legal redress against you in court to protect his hard-earned reputation and shall be asking for punitive and exemplary damages in the sum of Fifty Billion Naira (N50 000 000 000.00) against you”.

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The spokesperson of the command, SP Bright Edafe, confirmed the development to newsmen on Friday through a terse message in Warri.

The embattled royal father, who had surrendered himself to the police command on Thursday in Asaba, was consequently handed over to the military authority on Friday.

King Ikolo was among the eight persons declared wanted by the military authority over the alleged recent killing of the 17 soldiers in Okuama Community in Ughelli South.

The soldiers were allegedly ambushed and slain on March 14, 2024 while on a peace keeping mission to Okuama community.

Also declared wanted alongside the royal father were the President-General of Ewu, Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo; Andaowei Bakriri; Akevwru Omotegbono; Akata David; Sinclear Oghenerukevwe; Reuben Baru and Igoli Ebi.

The Ewu traditional ruler had earlier on Thursday before surrendering himself to the police, claimed his innocence in the incident.

He expressed shock that his name as the king of the Ewu kingdom would appear in the list of wanted persons.

“I have no hand in the killings, I have no hand in encouraging anybody to kill anybody, it is against my philosophy as a human being and my faith as a Catholic.

“It is a serious crime against humanity and they need to look at the appropriate places and do thorough investigation to know all those who have committed this crime and bring them to book.

“I am not a party to this and I have said earlier, the state government is aware of the turbulence I have been going through.

“As I speak, an arrangement was made by the government to invite those who are fighting me in the kingdom to reconcile the differences before this recent happenings.

“I barely know anything right now, I have no information, I know nothing, I am only just in the process of setting up a structure to enable me rule in the kingdom,” Ikolo said.

Source: NAN

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The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Bright Edafe, confirmed the development in Asaba on Friday.

Ikolo, said to be a traditional ruler, handed himself to the police on Thursday.

The seven others declared wanted by the DHQ are Akevwru Daniel Omotegbono (a.k.a. Amangben); Prof. Ekpekpo Arthur; Andaowei Dennis Bakriri; Akata Malawa David; Sinclear Oliki; Reuben Baru, and a woman, Igoli Ebi.

The 17 personnel killed in Okuama include the Commanding Officer of 181 Amphibious Battalion, two majors, one captain, and 12 soldiers.

They were buried in Abuja on Wednesday at a ceremony attended by President Bola Tinubu, Governors, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and service chiefs, among others.

Source: NAN

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The declaration was made on Thursday on the Facebook page and X handle of the Nigerian Army.

Those declared wanted are Prof. Ekpekpo Arthur; Mrs Igoli Ebi; Reuben Baru; Akata Malawa David, Sinclear Oliki, Andaowei Dennis Bakriri, Akevwru Daniel Omotegbono (a.k.a. Amagbem) and Clement Ikolo Okhenerukevwe.

The soldiers were killed on March 14, when Lt. Colonel A. H. Ali, the Commanding Officer of 181 Amphibious Battalion, led three other officers and 13 soldiers to the Okuama Community to mediate in the lingering dispute with Okoloba community.

Their visit to the community was for peace-keeping.

The remains of the soldiers were interred on Wednesday at the National Military Secretary, Abuja.

During the occasion, President Bola Tinubu declared that the federal government would provide scholarships up to the university level for all the children, including the unborn, of the Nigerian Army personnel killed in action at Okuama community in Delta State.

He also directed the military authorities to ensure that the benefits of the departed were paid to their families within 90 days.

The president also declared that the federal government would provide a house in any part of the nation to each of the families of the four officers and thirteen soldiers.

The president bestowed posthumous National Honours on the 17 fallen heroes.

Lt Col Ali, Major D.E Obi, Major S.D. Ashafa, and Captain U. Zakari were given the honour of Member of the Order of Niger, MON.

Staff Sergeant Yahaya Saidu, Corporal Danbaba Yahaya, Corporal Kabir Bashir, Lance Corporals Abdullahi Ibrahim, Bulus Haruna, Sole Opeyemi, Bello Anas, Private Alhaji Isah, Clement Francis, Abubakar Ali, Adamu Ibrahim, Hamman Peter, and Ibrahim Adamu were awarded Federal Republic Medals.

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On March 14, troops allegedly responding to a communal crisis between Okuama and Okoloba communities were attacked by yet to be identified gunmen who murdered the soldiers following an ambush. They did not stop there but went ahead to dismember the bodies of many of those that they killed. Among the victims was the commanding officer of 181 Amphibious Battalion, Bomadi, Lt Col. AH Ali, two army majors, an Army Captain and 12 other rank and file.

How the soldiers were ambushed and murdered like chickens is still a mystery to me. Were they unarmed? If actually they were on a peace mission, why would they be attacked without any provocation? There are so many conjectures on the actual cause of the crisis but the fact is that 17 Nigerian soldiers tragically lost their lives.

Until a holistic solution is designed and implemented, the Okuama tragedy would be a child of more deadly encounters in the future.

Twenty-four hours after the incident, the entire Okuama community became a ghost town. Many of the residents simply had a dialogue with their legs. They did not wait to see what would become of their community. With what happened in Odi, a predominantly Ijaw community in Bayelsa State still fresh in their memory, many of the residents simply disappeared into thin air.

The Odi massacre happened over 20 years ago, but the people of Okuama seem not to have learnt any lessons. If they had, they would have prevented the gruesome murder of soldiers within their community. On November 20, 1999, men of the Nigerian Army invaded Odi town and razed it to the ground. When the guns stopped booming, over 500 civilians were killed. What prompted the massacre? Twelve members of the Nigeria Police were murdered by a gang of armed men in the town.

In retaliation, the military invaded the village after President Olusegun Obasanjo gave them the go ahead. Although the Army were also ambushed and their expedition resisted on the outskirt of the village, they shot their way out of the ambush and exchanged fire with the armed militia. Anything that moved was gunned down and the entire Odi village was set on fire. When the dust settled, only banks, an Anglican church and a health centre were the only structures standing.

If the people of Okuama had forgotten about Odi, what about the military expedition in Zaki Biam? On October, 2001, 19 soldiers were ambushed and captured in the town of Vaase in Benue State by a group suspected to be Tiv militias. Two days later, the bodies of the soldiers were discovered near a primary school in the nearby town of Zaki Biam. According to locals, the murders were prompted by previous incidents in which armed men in military uniforms attacked several Tiv communities. There was a strong suspicion among the Tiv that elements of the military were backing their Jukun rivals, with whom they have had a reoccurring conflict over land, indigeneship, economic and political power.

But between October 20 and 24, many unarmed Tiv civilians were killed by the Nigerian Army to avenge the killing of their men. This time, the Army denied being responsible for the murder of civilians and President Obasanjo simply looked the other way. However, on November 6th, 2007, the newly appointed Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Luka Yusuf publicly offered an apology to the people of Benue for the killings. Also, then newly sworn in President Umaru Yar’Adua visited Benue State to personally apologise on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria for the killings. No soldier was ever punished, and nobody went to jail for the offences committed.

Now, Okuama is in the news for the wrong reasons and the town has become a ghost of itself. Some houses in the community believed to belong to some of the militant youths have been burnt down while the entire area is on lock-down as the military is not allowing anybody access to the town. In all of these, President Bola Tinubu has given the military the needed moral support as he has vowed to punish those who killed Nigerian Soldiers. He also gave a marching order to the military high command to fish out the killers.

Those in authority need to get to the root of the crisis. If they dig deeper, they would discover that the crisis has to do with crude oil and the ‘evil’ that comes with it. The two warring factions, Okuama and Okoloba, have been at each other’s throats over land matter for a very long time. However, the entire Okuama and Okoloba communities are rich and veritable source of crude oil. But while Okuama is an Urhobo town, Okoloba is predominantly an Ijaw community. In the Niger Delta region, there has been tension on several fronts since the federal government gave pipeline protection contract worth N48billion to High Chief Government Ekpemupolo.

Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, is a retired militant and a former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND). It was when the Yar’Adua government gave amnesty to militant leaders in the Niger Delta that Tompolo dropped his guns and later established a company, Tantital Security Service Limited, through which he got the pipeline protection contract. Tompolo is an Ijaw man but other sub-ethnic groups in the Niger Delta felt that they are no longer getting commensurate reward from their God-given oil. While some are fully into oil bunkering activities in the region, Tompolo and his company are on the look out for them, hence the no-love-lost between the Ijaws and other sub-ethnic groups in the Delta.

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Other powerful militia leaders are also into crude oil theft and again, Tompolo and his company are also dealing with them on that front. Despite the controversy that trailed the contract between NNPC Limited and Tompolo, his company has reportedly discovered several illegal connections into major crude oil pipelines. In the Delta and Bayelsa axis alone, 58 illegal connections were discovered. The massive oil theft in the creeks had reduced daily crude oil production to below one million barrels per day in the last few months but recently, NNPCL claimed that daily production has increased to 1.6 million barrels per day, from 937,000 barrels per day that it recorded in September last year.

The NNPCL, in a documentary released early this year, disclosed that it recorded 112 cases of crude oil theft between December 23, 2023 and December 29, 2023 alone. “In the past week, 42 illegal refineries were discovered in Konsho and Tebidaba in Bayelsa state; Obokofia in Imo state; Ogidigben, Mereje and Obodo Omadina, in Delta state. Illegal refineries in Umuire, Abi state, and Upata in Rivers state, were also discovered and destroyed. The company also disclosed that 14 illegal connections were uncovered in several parts of the Niger Delta, and that In Owaza, Abia state, a tunnel covering an illegal connection was also uncovered while 10 cases of vandalism were discovered. ‘’Illegal storage sites were discovered in Ebocha and Ton Kiri in Rivers state where oil pits were found, and in Ogbia, Bayelsa state, sacks of crude oil were discovered. More illegal storage sites were also uncovered in Urhonigbe, in Edo state; Ekuku-Agbor and Bomadi in Delta state.”

It is clear from the above that most communities in the Niger Delta are fully engaged in activities that are detrimental to the overall survival of the country and the government needs to take a closer look at the problem.

Many of the warlords in the Niger Delta believe that Tompolo is hindering them from making money from illegal crude oil sales. Those that are into illegal crude oil refinery are also feeling the heat, hence, the tension within the entire Niger Delta region.

The real genesis of the Okuama/ Okoloba crisis started few weeks back, when an Okoloba boy was allegedly ambushed and killed by militants in Okuama. But the feeling in Okuama was that it was Tompolo that engineered the involvement of the military in a bid to take undue advantage after the boy was killed.

A body known as Urhobo Media Practitioners Advocacy Group (UMPAG) is already calling for a full-scale investigation into the murder of the Soldiers. The group, in a statement, also alleged that the military are also complicit in the crisis between the two communities. “From information available to us, we demand that the panel probe the following areas: What was the true mission of the soldiers to Okuama and Okoloba communities? Was the Ovie (King) of Ewu Kingdom and her subjects informed of the military visit on a peace mission? Was the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, informed of the peace mission? Why did the situation report come from DPO Bomadi, and not DPO Otu-Jeremi? Why would the military, stationed in Bomadi, embark on a “peace mission” to Okuama in Ughelli South, without the involvement of DPO Jeremi, and local government officials? Why was the military’s “peace mission” escorted by Ijaw youths?

Questions, and more questions. As pointed out earlier, the entire economy of the Niger Delta is based on crude oil. The land has been made unattractive for farming and fishing due to oil spills, majority of the young boys in the region are not interested in education as they believe that they stand a better chance of hitting it big either as a militant or by getting involved in ‘cooking’ oil – illegal refinery business.

The Federal Government should design a template through which the crisis facing the entire Niger Delta region could be addressed.

The military that should provide security for the nation’s economic arteries through the sale of crude oil are also in the Niger Delta to make money for themselves. They allow ships and vessels with illegal crude oil easy passage after settling the big boss, and Nigeria has had to source the protection of its crude oil pipeline to a private company. Sad!

The Federal Government should design a template through which the crisis facing the entire Niger Delta region could be addressed. The youth, particularly young boys, must return to school and discard their unbridled ambition to hit it big by engaging in illegal business. Oil spill in the region should be addressed so that those interested in farming and fishing would have a sure means to a livelihood, while the military and other security agencies should up their games and be ready to protect our crude oil facilities across the country.

Until a holistic solution is designed and implemented, the Okuama tragedy would be a child of more deadly encounters in the future.

See you next week.

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A statement by the Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, said that the hostages were rescued on Thursday by the military in collaboration with local authorities and government agencies in a coordinated search and rescue operation.

He said the rescued hostages had been handed over to the Sokoto State government for further action.

According to him, the armed forces are extending all efforts and resources to find other innocent hostages and track down the terrorists that perpetrated those crimes.

“These efforts will continue until they are found and the terrorists arrested, tried and brought to justice.

“The military will not rest until all kidnapped hostages are rescued,” he said.

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Buba also said troops were deploying same effort to track down the culprits responsible for the killing of 18 soldiers in Okuama Community in Delta on March 14.

“Indeed, to curb the freedom of action of terrorists and the perpetrators of insecurity across the country, the military has released a banner of wanted terrorists and their cohorts.

“The banners would be deployed in strategic areas across the country. The deployment of the banner is for ease of recognition and arrest of the wanted persons.

“The public is urged to cooperate and report, please,” he added.

Source: NAN

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