Slain 17 Soldiers: Why Troops Are Still In Okuama – CDS

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lt. Gen. Christopher Musa, yesterday said the siege by the federal troops on Okuama community, the scene of the killing of 17 soldiers of the Nigerian Army in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State would be sustained until the ongoing military operations in the area are concluded.

Musa, in reviewing the efforts of the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) to arrest suspected killers of the troops and recover arms and ammunition snatched from the slain soldiers, said the troops would not vacate the community until what he termed “cordon and search” of the Urhobo community was concluded by the DHQ.

Musa made the revelation in an interview with ARISE TV, on Wednesday, amidst widespread public outcry against the endless military operation in Okuama and its neighbouring communities in Bayelsa and Delta states.

Stakeholders have demanded an end to the military exercise to enable the natives of Okuama and adjoining communities to return home to resume their normal life in the aftermath of the March 14 bloodbath, in which four officers and 12 soldiers of the Nigerian Army were killed in yet to be unravelled circumstances.

Musa’s appearance on the television station came on the heels of the demand by Lagos lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, for access to the detained traditional ruler of Ewu-Urhobo kingdom, HRM Clement Ikolo, Urukpe 1, who surrendered himself to the police on Thursday and was subsequently turned in to DHQ on Friday, for interrogation, in connection with the fate of the fallen soldiers.

Okuama is one of the 17 communities under the traditional authority of the embattled monarch.