Soldiers have reportedly traced the alleged militant leader responsible for the recent killing of 16 soldiers in Okuama, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, to the riverine Igbomoturu community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State. In response, soldiers launched an operation in the area, resulting in clashes with local youths who resisted their presence. Some houses belonging to militants were also reportedly razed during the operation.
The soldiers, arriving in seven gunboats and a passport boat on Sunday morning, cordoned off the Igbomoturu community, prompting villagers to seek refuge in nearby bushes. Additionally, troops targeted the Akugbene community in Bomadi Local Government Area, aiming to apprehend suspects who had reportedly fled there.
The Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, visited the 181 Amphibious Battalion of the Nigerian military in Bomadi, amid heightened security in the area. The governor held a closed-door meeting with military authorities, likely discussing the recent violence in Okuama.
Meanwhile, Rt. Hon. Francis Ejiroghene Waive, representing Ughelli North, Ughelli South, and Udu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, has called for a ceasefire in the ongoing military operation in Okuama. Waive condemned the killings in the community and urged all parties involved to prioritize peace and order. He stressed the need for a thorough investigation to identify those responsible for the violence, emphasizing the importance of justice and restraint in the military’s response.
Waive also called on relevant authorities to provide assistance to those displaced by the conflict and urged cooperation between military authorities, the state government, and affected communities to address the crisis. He emphasized the sanctity of human life and appealed for calm and cooperation in resolving the situation according to the law and principles of conscience.
