No fewer than 16 military officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army were on Thursday killed by unknown gunmen in riverside Ijaw and Urhobo communities of Delta State.
The murdered security personnel include the commanding officer of 181 Battalion, two Army Majors and 13 soldiers.
As at 6pm on Saturday, 14 corpses of the fallen soldiers had been recovered by the Army.
The corpses were brought to the jetty of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), in Bomadi, the headquarters of Bomadi local government area of Delta State, awaiting further directives by superior authorities.
Most of them were beheaded and dismembered by the killers. Images of the mutilated bodies of the soldiers being recovered were being circulated on social media, adding to the tension in the communities.
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The troops, who were deployed to quell the crisis between an Urhobo community, Opuama and Ijaw community, Okoloba in Ughelli South and Bomadi local government areas of Delta State, respectively, were ambushed by the rampaging fighters of both communities.
It was gathered that an unspecified number of indigenes of the communities have also lost their lives in the consequent invasion by another set of angry troops.
Already, the communities have been deserted as further reinforcement of troops have been made into the troubled spots on the order of the General Officer Commanding, 6th Division, Nigerian Army, Maj-Gen Jamal Abdussalam.
Abdussalam has also relocated to the war-ravaged areas.
The fate of the preliminary team led to further reinforcement of troops, led by the commanding officer of 181 Battalion, Bomadi, the headquarters of Bomadi LGA, who were also ambushed and murdered.
Consequently, a killing spree engulfed Okuama and Okoloba communities, leaving in its trail death of uncounted civilians.
Six military gunboats have been anchored at the waterfront of Opuama community.
The director, Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, who confirmed the killing of the military personnel, said the personnel were deployed for a peacekeeping mission to the two warring communities.
In a statement yesterday, Tukur said the Chief of Defence Staff, General CG Musa, has ordered the immediate arrest and investigation of all those involved.
He said, “The troops of 181 Amphibious Battalion, Bomadi local government area of Delta State, while on a peace mission to Okuoma community in Bomadi LGA of Delta State were surrounded by some community youths and killed on Thursday, March 14, 2024.
“The unfortunate incident occurred when the troops responded to a distress call after the communal crisis between the Okuama and Okoloba communities, both in Delta State.
“The reinforcement team led by the commanding officer was also attacked, leading to the deaths of the commanding officer, two majors, one captain, and 12 soldiers.
“The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), 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.”
