• Bayelsa gov Diri, ex-gov Sylva trade accusations
• Senate investigates killing of army personnel, Reps mourns

The aftermath of the recent killing of 17 Nigerian Army personnel took a disturbing twist yesterday, as the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) raised the alarm over an alleged invasion of Igbomotoru community in South Ijaw Local Council of Bayelsa State.

It was learnt that troops of the Nigerian Army invaded Igbomotoru on Monday morning, burning houses and allegedly killing some persons.

The soldiers were said to have arrived in five gunboats.

Confirming the incident, IYC, at a media briefing in Port Harcourt, alleged that the soldiers killed about 40 people.

IYC President, Alaye Theophilus, said the community was held hostage by the soldiers, and that many houses were burnt down.

He questioned the rationale behind the alleged invasion, saying Igbomotoru had been peaceful until the military men arrived.

Theophilus further displayed gory pictures of bodies on the streets and claimed that a humanitarian crisis was ongoing in the area. He added that military men were preventing people from exiting or entering the community.

Theophilus said: “Okuama community is not an Ijaw community and they are not boundary communities with Igbomotoru II either. We don’t know the yardstick used in reaching this decision.

“We are saying that from today, the military should be professional in their engagement. We don’t want to slide into the pre-amnesty era where the whole region was in a state of lawlessness.

“We cannot fold our hands and watch the Nigeria military, in this 21st century, kill our people like fowls. We are also calling on the military to explain to the Ijaw Nation, the reason for the invasion of Igbomotoru II community.”

He added: “We condemn what happened in Delta State, where armed men killed over 16 soldiers that were going for peacekeeping. We don’t accept that in the Niger Delta. This is an act that no sane man will be happy about.

“Often, when we have some misguided youths act against security operatives, we experience invasion, burning down of communities. We want to ask if it is the same rule of engagement they apply in other zones of the country.

“We are appealing to the Nigeria military to ensure that there will no longer be reprisals while they are rooting for the culprits. What we are experiencing in Okuama is the burning down of houses and killings. We are calling on the President and Chief of Defence Staff to come to the aid of Niger Delta.”

This came as current Bayelsa State governor, Douye Diri, and a former governor of the state, Timipre Sylva, traded accusations over the killings.

Sylva, who was the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the November 11, 2024 governorship election, had berated politicians and particularly, the state government for arming non-state actors with guns and ammunition during the poll.

“I condemn in totality the killing of men of the Joint Task Force in Okuama, Delta State. This, again, shows why politicians should not arm irresponsible non-state actors. The last Bayelsa governorship election featured a lot of disheartening state sponsorship of gunmen.

“And today, we all see the result of that act of desperation and the unnecessary loss of precious Nigerian lives. My heart goes out to the families of those gallant soldiers that lost their lives,” Sylva said.

Diri, however, took a swipe at the former governor, saying the statement was reminiscent of a pot calling the kettle black.

A statement by Diri’s Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, condemned Sylva’s “introduction of politics” into the killing, adding that it smacks of insensitivity; coming at a time when true patriots were mourning.

It reads: “The military authorities should be allowed to conduct a thorough investigation into the sordid occurrence in Okuama. Comments should be restrained at this time, while efforts are on to unravel the perpetrators.

“It is, therefore, very unfortunate and sad that Chief Sylva chose to play politics with the evil act of the killing of Nigerian soldiers, at a time patriots in our country are outraged and mourning.

“Introducing politics into the Okuama killing is insensitive, just as it is condemnable and akin to dancing on their graves. For those who know, this is like the pot calling the kettle black.

“Sylva’s unending bellyaching and whining over the 2023 Bayelsa governorship election does not change the fact that it has been won and lost. He and his ilk should embrace this reality and join hands with our government to further the development of our state.”

Meanwhile, the Senate, yesterday, mandated its committees on Army, Defence, Air Force and Navy to investigate the March 14 killing of the soldiers in Okuama.

This followed a point of order raised by Abdulaziz Yar’adua (APC, Katsina) during plenary.

The motion was tagged: ‘The killing of Nigerian Army Personnel in Okuama Community, Delta State, and the Necessity for an Urgent Investigation’.

The upper chamber urged the Federal Government to ensure that those responsible for the heinous crime were identified and apprehended.

It said they should be “brought to face the full consequences of their action through a fair and transparent legal process”.

Raising Orders 41 and 51 of the Senate Standing Rules, Yar’adua, who is Chairman of Senate Committee on Army, described the incident as a serious threat to national security and the stability of the nation.

“The recent tragic incident in Okuama community, Ughelli South Local Council of Delta State on Thursday, March 14, resulted in the loss of a Commanding Officer, two Majors, a Captain and 13 soldiers during a peace mission. This highlights a serious threat to national security and the stability of the nation. The tragic incident underscores the urgent need for justice and accountability without resorting to retribution,” Yar’adua said.

He lamented that understaffing of the Nigeria Police has caused the military to take on internal policing duties such as busting organised crime, oil theft, communal crisis, kidnappings, and banditry.

Yar’adua said it was critical to streamline and deepen collaboration between the armed forces and law enforcement agencies; and the Nigerian populace and communities.

“This collaboration is essential to foster trust, enhance security and promote a sense of shared responsibility in preventing such tragedies in the future,” he said.

Dafinone Edeh (APC, Delta), who seconded the motion, consoled the military high command and families of the slain soldiers.

In his contribution, Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, described what happened in Delta as despicable.

“It is inhuman and it is something that cannot be accepted. We need to commiserate with the Nigerian Armed Forces and indeed the entire nation; console the immediate families of the fallen heroes and the Nigerian military over what happened.

“It should be condemned. What happened is inhuman, and no stone should be left unturned in trying to find the culprits. They must face justice. This should never happen again in this country,” Jibrin said.

Similarly, a former Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, said the military needs support at all times; not attacks, adding: “What happened in Delta was not an accident but a well-orchestrated plan to kill our men.” He also called on the executive and the legislature to ensure better welfare for the military.

On his part, Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa) described the killings as sad and called for an inquiry to ascertain the facts. “Let us direct the appropriate committee to go into this matter and then give us a full report; let’s know what really happened,” he said.

In his remarks, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, said that the entire Senate and the Nigerian society were concerned.

“We condemn this dastardly act. It portends danger for the entire society. Every single culprit involved must be brought out to face the full wrath of the law. This is not acceptable in any sane society in the world,” he said.

Relatedly, the House of Representatives joined Nigerians, yesterday, in mourning the killing of Lt. Col. A. H. Ali, who was the Commanding Officer, 181 Amphibious Battalion and the 16 other combatants.

Adopting a motion under matters of urgent national importance, sponsored by Babajimi Benson, the House observed a moment of silence for the souls of the military personnel.

It mandated the Armed Forces of Nigeria to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to the gruesome murder, to bring all perpetrators and their collaborators to book.

The House further mandated the House Committees on Defence to interface with the Armed Forces of Nigeria to ensure compliance, and report to the House within four weeks.

It called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to send relief materials to those displaced, following alleged reprisal by soldiers.

The lawmakers urged the Nigerian Army to temper justice with mercy and refrain from unleashing anger against innocent persons while pursuing the killers.