The defence headquarters yesterday released the identities of 17 soldiers who were slaughtered in Okuama community in Delta State on Thursday, March 14, 2014 while on a peace and rescue mission.
Initial reports said 15 or 16 army personnel were killed in the coastal town but the DHQ published names and pictures of 17 men involved in the unfortunate incident.
The deceased, according to the DHQ were: Lt Col AH Ali, Commanding Officer 181 Amphibious Battalion, Nigerian Army; Maj SD Shafa (N/13976); Maj DE Obi (N/14395); Capt U Zakari (N/16348); SSgt Yahaya Saidu (#3NA/36/2974); Cpl Yahaya Danbaba (1ONA/65/7274); Col Kabiru Bashir (11NA/66/9853); and LCol Bulus Haruna (16NA/TS/5844).
Others were Lal Sole Opeyemi (17NA/760719), LCpl Bello Anas (17NA/76/290), LCpl Hamman Peter (NA/T82653), LCpl Ibrahim Abdullahi (18NA/77/1191), Pte Alhaji Isah (17NA/76/6079), Pte Clement Francis (19NA/78/0911), Pte Abubakar Ali (19NA/78/2162), Pte Ibrahim Adamu (19NA/78/6079), and Pte Adamu Ibrahim (21NA/80/4795).
Meanwhile, the DHQ said it would mete out commensurate punishment to those who ambushed and killed the army personnel.
Defence spokesman, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba said in a statement yesterday that the killing of the soldiers was “senseless and barbaric”, adding that “they were killed in a dehumanised and unspeakable manner.”
He denied that the military had carried out a reprisal and warned conspiracy theorists to desist from “peddling misinformation, disinformation and fake news” capable of “dishonouring our fallen heroes.”
The statement reads: “It is against this background that the military debunks all claims that the military embarked on reprisal attacks in Okuama community after the incident.
“The community was deserted even before troops arrived the scene. Importantly, those involved in peddling these misinformation, disinformation and fake news that the military had embarked on reprisal attacks on the community, following the incident, should desist from further dishonouring our fallen heroes.
“It is no longer news that troops of Operation Delta Safe suffered a setback that resulted in loss of lifes of gallant personnel of the armed forces.
“These personnel were on a peace mission to Okuama community of Delta State when members of the community launched unprovoked attacks on the unsuspecting troops, killing the Commanding Officer of 181 Amphibious Battalion, 2 Majors, 1 Capt and 12 personnel of the battalion.
“The senseless and barbaric killing of these men is a tragedy. They were killed in a dehumanized and unspeakable manner.
“Accordingly, on behalf of the CDS, Gen CG Musa, the Armed Forces mourn the loss of these gallant troops that paid the supreme sacrifice for the nation.
“We condole with their families, colleagues and loved ones over the tragic incident. They have died trying to restore peace in the nation. It is necessary to reiterate that both the Constitution and the Armed Forces Act saddled the military with the responsibility of the protection of sovereignty and territorial integrity of our nation.
“Accordingly, the armed forces consist of citizens from every nook and cranny of the nation, that have taken an oath of allegiance to put themselves in harm’s way to defend our great country.
“Given ongoing security situation across the country, troops are deployed on internal security operations in about all the states of the federation.
“Troops intervene to de-escalate and contain tensed situations. 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 act.
“It behoves on the community leaders, elders and even the people of Delta State to assist investigation to identify the perpetrators of the dastardly act so that they can be held accountable for their actions.
“Furthermore, it must be noted that the dispute between Okuama and Okoloba communities remains unresolved.
“It therefore implies that there could be untoward activities not initiated by the military. Overall, there is no doubt, that this is an extremely sad development and untoward activity by members of the Okuama community against troops that were there to protect them.
“We urge the public to resist the temptation of allowing any videos of the incident of the killed personnel from going viral. Their loved ones are still alive, even though they have died protecting our country and its citizens.” (Sic).
