Tears, grief envelope Okuama as soldiers invade community, displace, and kill innocent civilians

Tension has enveloped Okuama Community in Ughelli South LGA of Delta State following the invasion by armed soldiers who have completely taken over the area beating and molesting innocent residents.

The soldiers said to be on a reprisal operation in the aftermath of the killing of 16 soldiers from the 181 Battalion of the Nigerian Army by suspected youths of the community.

Okuoma and neighboring Okoloba community in Bomadi LGA of the State have been embroiled in violent conflicts resulting in the intervention by the military.

The killing of the 16 military personnel on the Focados River while returning to their base in Bomadi after a peace meeting with the Okuoma leaders and youths, reportedly provoked serial responses from the military high command in Abuja leading to the total occupation of of the riverine community by soldiers.

Fleeing residents reported that the invading soldiers in their search for suspected killers of the soldiers, shot at harmless people some of whom were women and children.

The military had since taken over Okuoma and neighbouring communities by force, leading to loss of lives, livelihoods, displacement of community members into the forest.

Reports state that the military had started moving from home to home picking up innocent young men some of whom they allegedly shot dead, resulting in many others fleeing the troubled Community.

The military authorities have however declared some community leaders and some youths wanted.

Among those listed are Arthur Ekpekpo, President General of Ewu Clan Development Forum, Edward Wariso, the Okuoma Community Youth leader, Kingsley Ojarikre, Edward Kokori and Onojeme Georgewill.

The military said the men are wanted over their alleged roles in the mass killing of the soldiers who were returning from a peace mission in Okuoma following a feud with their neighbors Okoloma community.

But community sources say all those declared wanted weren’t involved. They said some illegal bunkering syndicates operating in the riverine area, may have been responsible for the heinous crime.

Meanwhile, life in Okuoma has become a living hell as several people have remained displaced and have chosen to remain in bushes until normalcy returns to the once peaceful community.

As a result, several households have been dislocated and unable to be reunited following the lock down that grants no one access to their homes or families with no access to medical care.

The people have however appealed to the Delta State Governor and the military authorities to see to the early resolution of the problem so that they could return to their homes.