Delta bloodshed: Senate convenes with military chiefs while soldiers search streams

On Wednesday, the Senate Joint Committee on Defense, Army, Navy, and Air Force met behind closed doors with the Service Chiefs to discuss the recent deaths of seventeen Nigerian Army officers and soldiers in the Okuoma community in the Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State.

Additionally, word spread that on Wednesday, the military stepped up their pursuit for the individuals who killed the military members.

When thugs killed the four military officials and thirteen troops last Thursday, it was reported that they were on a peacekeeping operation in the Okuoma neighborhood.

The Chief of Defense Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan; and Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, were present at the lawmakers’ meeting with the service chiefs, which began at precisely 3:42 p.m.

The bipartisan committee was directed by the Senate to look into the killing of the military members during its Tuesday plenary session.

The Federal Government was encouraged by the upper house to make sure that the perpetrators of the horrible act were located, captured, and prosecuted.

Senator Ahmad Lawan, who also serves as the head of the Senate Committee on Defense, is the chairman of the Joint Committee.

Members of the Joint Committee held a minute of silence in memory of the 17 military personnel who lost their lives just prior to the start of the meeting with the Service Chiefs.

During the Joint Committee’s investigative hearing, Senator Lawan discussed the incident and remembered that on Thursday, March 14, 2024, the men of 181 Amphibious Battalion embarked on a peace mission to Okuoma Community in Delta State. A commanding officer, two majors, a captain, and twelve soldiers were lost in an event that happened during the peace mission.

“Some youngsters from the community surrounded the troops on the peace mission to Okuoma community in the Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, resulting in the deaths of men and officers.

“At its plenary on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, the Senate acknowledged the seriousness of the attack on the military personnel and directed the Joint Committee on Defense, Army, Navy, and Air Force to look into the matter.”

He added,”The Senate further encouraged the federal government to make sure that the perpetrators of the horrible act be located, captured, and prosecuted.”

Senator Lawan emphasized once more how important it is that the federal government give security top priority, emphasizing that security investments come before those made in any other area.

He called the death of the 17 soldiers “barbaric” and urged Nigerians to assist the Armed Forces by providing information that would enable the apprehending and conviction of those responsible for various acts of insecurity throughout the nation.

“The Senate and the National Assembly will always support our military in any way we can,” he continued. That history lies with the National Assembly. We make a consistent effort to meaningfully appropriate resources so that they are available. We acknowledge that it has never been sufficient, and I would like to use this chance to thank our armed forces for accomplishing so much with what little we have.

The Senate holds that no investment in any industry can be more vital than making sure that our nation is secure, as the threat to our security is greater than any other issue.

This regrettable event has therefore caused the lawmakers to feel extremely distressed. The Senate wishes for the individuals accountable for this horrible and violent behavior to be brought to justice and punished severely.

“This is our Armed Forces, and they cannot secure us unless we, the People, do our part,” I would want to appeal to the people of Nigeria. Therefore, it is expected that all civilians will support the military forces. Information from those who were present when this incident happened is the only way we can stop something similar from happening again.

Troops intensify their manhunt

Soldiers from Defense Headquarters reportedly intensified their manhunt for the assassins of the military men on Wednesday.

According to reports, a few senior Bayelsa State government figures who were close friends of the main suspect have already disappeared.

Reliable information indicated that the main suspect was a prominent ally of important Bayelsa government figures.

In a fruitless hunt for the main suspect, enraged Nigerian Army personnel raided Igbomotoru, an Ijaw town and Okodeh’s paternal home, on Sunday in Southern Ijaw LGA, Bayelsa State.

Not less than three suspects have been taken into custody thus far.

The suspects were reportedly taken into custody at Army headquarters in Asaba after being apprehended on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

In the meantime, Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri vehemently denounced the military men’s deaths on Wednesday.

In a press statement released on Wednesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, Diri emphasized that every effort must be made to hold the offenders accountable.

“The killing of our soldiers is barbaric, demonic, and blatantly illegal,” he declared. And by our laws, everyone implicated ought to be viewed and dealt with as a criminal.