Residents of Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State, have accused soldiers of opening fire on them and killing about 50 people, following the ambush that claimed the lives of 16 military personnel, including a lieutenant colonel.
Speaking from hiding, terrified indigenes narrated how soldiers allegedly arrived in the community for a peace talk but resorted to violence, resulting in casualties within the community.
According to eyewitnesses, tension escalated when the military insisted on taking away the community chairman and some leaders for further questioning after the peace talks, which the people refused.
This refusal purportedly angered the military men, leading to gunfire at the town hall where the meeting was held.
The residents claimed that after the initial attack on March 14, the military returned the next day and opened fire again, causing more casualties.
Additionally, they alleged that soldiers set ablaze houses in the community, forcing residents to flee.
A community leader said, “That very day (March 14), we did expect what happened as we saw two gunboats come with the army. We were surprised, but the army maintained that they came for peace talk, so we welcomed and entertained them.”
“When they wanted to go, they said they wanted to take our chairman and the leaders along, but the community refused, so the army changed all of a sudden, and they did not act as people we just entertained.
“They opened fire, and in that process of firing, our youth, old women, and children died on the spot. More than 20 died instantly.
“They left but came back again and opened fire again, raising the casualties to 50, and they returned on March 15, and burnt every house in the Okuama community.”
Meanwhile, military authorities have described the residents’ claims as propaganda, stating that the community was complicit in the attack on the soldiers.
The Director of Army Public Relations, Major Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, condemned what he termed the resort to propaganda by the community, claiming that the troops were murdered by an armed youth gang in a gruesome manner.
The Army vowed to apprehend the perpetrators of the attack on the soldiers, adding that there would be no reprisal on the part of the troops but urging law-abiding citizens to go about their normal activities.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Toareed Lagbaja, expressed condolences to the families of the deceased soldiers and directed that no stone should be left unturned in apprehending the perpetrators of the attack.
However, residents have called for a full-scale investigation into the incident by the government to ascertain the truth and ensure justice for the victims.
