The military high command has denied reports that troops went on a reprisal attack after the kîlling of 16 soldiers in the Okuama community in Delta State.
Daily Trust had reported how an army commander, two majors, one captain and 12 soldiers were kílled in Okuama.
The deceased officers and soldiers were from 181 Amphibious Batallion in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta.
Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, had directed the immediate investigation and arrest of those involved in the heinous crime.
Days after the order, residents of the Okuama community fled to neighbouring Ughelli for fear of reprisal by soldiers.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Edward Buba, yesterday said the armed forces being a disciplined force complies with its rules of engagement, laws of armed conflict and respect for human rights.
He said, “The ugly incident in the Okuama community in Delta State is indicative of the dangers our gallant troops experience to secure our nation.
“The military assures that there would be measured responses and injurious consequences for the perpetrators of these dastardly acts.
“Nevertheless, the armed forces being a disciplined force that complies with rules of engagement, laws of armed conflict and the respect for human rights would be tempered by these provisions. We would not be led by emotions but by the rule of law.
“It is against this background that the military debunks all claims that the military embarked on reprisal attacks in the Okuama community after the incident. The community was deserted even before troops arrived at the scene.
“Importantly, those involved in peddling this misinformation, disinformation and fake news that the military had embarked on reprisal attàcks on the community following the incident, should desist from further dishonoring our fallen heroes.”
The senior military officer urged community leaders, elders and even the people of Delta State to assist investigation to identify the perpetrators of the dastardly act so that they can be held accountable for their actions.
Meanwhile, troops of the Nigerian Army have reportedly invaded the Igbomotoru community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, razing houses and allegedly kîlling about 11 people.
Soldiers in five gunboats reportedly stormed the community and razed houses suspected to be the hideout of a militant leader said to be involved in the kîlling of the military men who were on a rescue mission in Delta.
A source said immediately the troops stormed the Bayelsa community, they opened firé on some residents relaxing at the jetty before proceeding to set ablàze the three buildings suspected to be the hideout of the said militant leader.
He said the community had been able to recover 11 corpses from the attack, while still searching for others.
He said, “The military invasion has affected the people gravely. Lives have been lost; properties have been destroyed. Even after the attàck, I am sure that life in the community will never be the same.
“I am appealing to the federal and state governments to as a matter of urgency intervene in this matter. We do not have a hand in whatever transpired in Delta State. The international community should come to our aid.”
When contacted on the phone, the spokesman for Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) headquarters, Major Adenegan Ojo, terminated the call after hearing it was a journalist who called.
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