The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has released a banner of 8 persons including a woman, who it said are the suspected masterminds of the killing of 17 Soldiers at Okuama.
Recall that the 17 Soldiers – Lt. Col. AH Ali (Commanding Officer, 181 Amphibious Battalion); Major SD Shafa; Major DE Obi; Capt. U Zakari; Sgt. Yahaya Saidu; Cpl Yahaya Danbaba; Cpl Kabir Bashir; LCpl Bulus Haruna; LCpl Sole Opeyemi; LCpl Bello Anas; LCpl Hamman Peter; LCpl Ibrahim Abdullahi; Pte Alhaji Isah; Pte Clement Francis; Pte Abubakar Ali; Pte Ibrahim Adamu, and Pte Adamu Ibrahim – who were killed following a dispute between Okuama in Ughelli South LGA and Okoloba in Bomadi LGA of Delta State, were laid to rest yesterday at the National Military Cemetery, Abuja.
While declaring the suspects wanted, the Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba in a Press Briefing with Journalists on Thursday at the New Conference Room of the Defence Headquarters said that the unfortunate incident that happened in Delta State that led to the killing of the Soldiers must not be allowed to happen again in the country.
“We must never allow what happened in Delta State that led to the killing of 17 Soldiers who were buried yesterday to happen again. It is for that reason we have put out a banner of 8 suspects including a woman. We shall do anything humanly possible to get them even if it means putting a bounty on them,” Gen Buba stated while feeding questions from Journalists.
Earlier, General Buba stated that the military in a bid to show goodwill to the people of Delta, had constructed several civic projects in the state. It therefore urged community leaders, elders and members of the public to help expose the suspects so they would be brought to justice.
“The armed forces is a force for stability that employs both kinetic and non-kinetic measures to achieve the desired end state.
“Prior to the ugly incident, the military had constructed several civic projects in Delta State as a sign of goodwill. For instance, the construction of Multipurpose Hall and Borehole Projects in Patani LGA and Medical Outreach at Aladja Community in Udu LGA all in Delta State, among several others. Needless to mention, the elders and community leaders have an obligation to expose these wanted persons.
“Nevertheless, troops would continue with their efforts until the culprits are found, arrested, tried, and brought to justice by Nigerian law. The banner of eight wanted persons involved with the killing including a woman is hereby released. Accordingly, it is necessary to state that citizens are our first line of intelligence and must rise to the occasion in honour of their nation,” he said.
Those declared wanted are Akevwru Daniel Omotegbono (AKA Amagbem), Prof. Ekpekpo Arthur, Andaowei Dennis Bakriri, Igoli Ebi, Akata Malawa David, Sinclear Oliki, Clement Ikolo Ogbenerukevwe and Reuben Baru.
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Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters has attributed the rescue of 137 school children taken hostage in Kaduna State and another 16 hostages in Sokoto State to collaboration between local authorities and government agencies.
General Buba said the level of distress created by the children was sufficient enough for troops to exploit in their rescue.
According to him, “The armed force is bent on sustaining the winning ways of our operational engagements as demonstrated with the recent rescue of 16 and 137 hostages in Sokoto and Kaduna States, respectively. The rescue of these hostages is indicative of a better understanding of the dynamics of what we are dealing with and to address the issue in a much safer manner.
“The rescue operation was based on collaboration between the military working with local authorities and government agencies across the country, in a coordinated approach. The success demonstrates the unwavering commitment of the armed forces to secure and protect the citizens against harm and acts of terror.
“The pressure of military operations created a significant level of distress both for the terrorists and the children. Given the situation, the troop’s line of interest was the children. The level of distress created by the children was sufficient enough for troops to exploit in their rescue.”
Overall, troops neutralised 212 and arrested 252 suspected terrorists and hoodlums within the last two weeks. Troops also arrested 29 perpetrators of oil theft, rescued 244 kidnapped hostages while denying the oil theft of the estimated sum of One Billion Fifty Million Seven and Fifteen Thousand Two Hundred and Sixty Naira (N1,050,715,260.00) only.
