Several houses in the coastal and rustic Okuoma community, in the Bomadi LGA of Delta state, were on fire, hours after 16 military personnel on a peacekeeping mission were killed.
Tukur Gusau, director of information at the defence headquarters, in a statement on Saturday, said the military personnel — comprising a lieutenant colonel, two majors, one captain, and 12 soldiers — were killed by youths on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the manhunt for the killers of the military personnel was still ongoing while some arrests had been made by the soldiers led by the General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam.
Residents of the coastal community were said to have fled to neighbouring Ughelli town for fear of a reprisal by the soldiers, who have been patrolling the creeks.
The troops of 181 Amphibious Battalion, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, while on a peace mission to Okuoma community in BOMADI LGA of Delta State were surrounded by some community youths and killed on Thursday, 14 March 2024,” Gusau said.
“The unfortunate incident occurred when the troops responded to a distress call after the communal crisis between the Okuoma and Okoloba communities both in Delta State.
Peoplesmind