OKUOMA KILLING: Don’t shift suspects against arrest, Gov Oborevwori warns Delta monarchs
*As Tinubu, Gen. Olanrewaju react to criminal act
A week after the tragic murder of military personnel in Delta State, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, has warned traditional rulers in the state against protecting suspects in the incident.
Seventeen military personnel – a lieutenant colonel, two majors, one captain, and 13 soldiers — were killed while on a “peacekeeping mission” in Okuama community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state last Thursday in a major blow to the country’s military.
As authorities in the country intensify work on the matter, Governor Oborevwori wants traditional rulers to cooperate in the investigations.
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Thursday, cautioned traditional rulers in the state against shielding suspects involved in the killing of four military officers and thirteen soldiers in Okuama community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state.… pic.twitter.com/dIwS0WVg0F
While addressing traditional rulers on the unfortunate incident at the State Traditional Rulers’ Council Secretariat in Asaba, Governor Oborevwori said Delta was governed within the tenets of the rule of law and human decency, stressing that no kingdom should shield the perpetrators of the dastardly act.
The governor said President Tinubu and the military authorities have assured him that innocent citizens in the state would not be victimised.
“We cannot tolerate that. It has never happened in this state; to kill one Lt. Colonel, two majors, one captain, and 13 soldiers. We need to fish out those involved,” he said.
“Do not hide or shield anybody. The Chief of Army Staff and Mr. President have assured me that innocent people will not be victimised; unless you connive with the killers of the soldiers.”
Reactions
Reactions have since greeted the dastardly act that saw a section of the society launching attacks on their military, especially unprotected officers and soldiers on peace mission. Among those who have reacted was former General Officer Commanding (GOC), 3 Armoured Division Nigerian Army, Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (Rtd), who said non-state actors protecting oil installations is politically and economically unsafe for Nigeria.
Delta Gov Oborevwori: Rude shock
Describing the incident as a rude shock, the governor recalled that he was in Abuja when the tragic it occurred.
Upon getting wind of the attack, Oborevwori said he met with the Commander-in-Chief and called the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa; and the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja.
“On the 7th of February, we summoned the people of Okoloba and Okuama communities in Bomadi and Ughelli South Local Government Areas including the members representing the two constituencies in the State House of Assembly, the Council Chairmen and their Presidents-General where we advised them that a lot has been happening in their area and they signed a peace accord.
“The killing of these Army Officers and soldiers came as a rude shock to us and when this thing happened, I immediately called the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Defence Staff, and the Army Staff because I was in Abuja. I came back and issued a press statement.
“On Monday, I went to Bomadi to meet with all the security chiefs, where we had our security council meeting and I got briefings from the Brigade Commander. In attendance was the G.O.C 6 Division Nigeria Army, Maj Gen Jamil Abdussalam and the JTF Commander, Rear Admiral John Okeke.
“After the meeting, I went to Abuja to meet with Mr. President to brief him on what happened. I also went to see the Chief of Army Staff to discuss with him. I also meet with the National Security Adviser and the Inspector General of Police.”
Tinubu: Befitting burial, National Honours
Earlier, President Tibinu commiserated with the military and the families of the deceased, assuring that the slain military personnel in Okuama will be conferred with national honours.
He spoke while addressing members of the House of Representatives led by the Speaker, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, Tinubu said that the dead victims would also get what he described as a befitting burial.
“The baby step being taken by our country is doing well. The sacrifices we have made and we ask the people to continue to make, assuring them that there is a very bright light at the end of the tunnel,” Tinubu said.
“All you have to do is to have faith. Pls don’t forget your constituencies, remember what they are going through. We salute all our men and women in uniform and we sympathise with them.
“I will soon make further pronouncements. They must have a befitting burial and they must have national honour.”
Gen Olanrewaju: Non-state actors protecting oil installations unsafe
Former Minister of Communications and Chairman of Presidential Review Committee for the General Abisoye Panel on NNPC Reforms, Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju, Rtd, ndc, says non-state actors, who parade themselves as militants, should not be seen around crude oil pipelines in the name of security and protection in Nigeria.
This was said in a statement by his Media Office dated Thursday 21st March 2024.
He said constitutionally recognised military institutions should be well positioned and equipped to do the job through specially trained and strategically built forces like it is done in India and Venezuela.
According to the statement, General Olanrewaju gave the advice in his reaction to the painful killing of Lt. Col. AH Ali, the Commanding Officer of 181 Amphibious Battalion of the Nigerian Army, Agbor, along with two majors, one captain and 13 other soldiers of the Army by Okuoma youths in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State on Thursday 14th March 2024.
The Olanrewaju’s intervention was coming on the heels of the event that took place in Okuoma.
The former Member Provisional Ruling Council said, “That event in Okuoma gives me an unsettled mind about events surrounding the nation’s high volumes of oil deposits in Western Delta. The consequences of collateral damages resulting from gang warfare between two warring communities of Okuoma and Okoloba could lead to further serious consequences of collateral damages to our national assets as a result of this unwarranted conflict.
“I believe strongly that the federal government should reconsider a new security protection template for our oil rich region, not on a piece meal basis but the entire oil belt in the country.
“I also have a strong feeling that non-state actors should be called their true identity and not dressed up nicely with a patronising name. They are militants, thugs, hoodlums and are not different from bandits. That is what they are. Their transition has always been from thuggery, militancy to terrorism. That was how Boko Haram started.”
According to General Olanrewaju, a former General Officer Commanding, 3 Armoured Division Nigerian Army, “The Okuoma community’s land conflict of this nature with its neighbour may signal a new build-up of community warfare that can snowball into a bigger conflict in the region. Who knows? It was Odi, Zaki Biam, now Okuoma and Okoloba. This is a smoldering smoke that must be quenched as quickly as possible. The earlier the federal government steps in quickly and keeps the smoldering smoke down as fast as possible, the better in the oil region.
“My view as my committee suggested on Gen Abisoye’s NNPC’s Report still stands the test of time. The NSA and the Military High Command must come out with a new Creek defence plan and policy to include the crude oil zone, oil platform, the offshore assets and resources to support them by laws, regulations and the Constitution.
“As a matter of digression, I have made the points that the so-called non-state actors cannot protect our oil pipelines for lack of total patriotism. The nation needs a national institution to protect our national assets. We need to apply capital punishment for offences relating to oil theft in the Niger Delta region and banditry around our mining states. The nation derives its revenues from these resources. This definition has to be made clear in our laws and the Constitution. Those soldiers must not die in vain.
“There is nowhere in the world where some sections of the society will be fighting unprotected military officers on peace mission. It is because of armed forces, as an institution, and police that Nigeria is still united. And for a set of people to gang up to cut, burn and kill military officers? It is not done and must not be allowed to be pushed under. Perpetrators must be fished out and punished.”
