Okuama: Niger Delta leaders call for soldiers withdrawal, decry careless use of military

Leaders and stakeholders in the Niger Delta area after paying close attention to the situation in Okuama village, Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State have called for the withdrawal of soldiers in the community while declaring the careless use of military by the Federal government.  

Tensions in the region have increased and there has been widespread relocation as a result of the crisis, which was set off by the deaths of 17 military members and the military siege that followed.

A diverse range of leaders and influences, including activists, priests, retired security personnel, and traditional rulers, have united in calling on the federal government to act decisively in response to the rapidly worsening situation.

Retired Air Force officer, Wing Commander P.Y. Biakpara, said: “I am a military man and there are rules of engagement. Things start from the police and it is only when the situation goes beyond the police that the army is rarely called upon.

“If there is any small issue, one person will run to the army checkpoint and soldiers will go there, nonsense! That means our army has nothing to do!

“I am not happy about what happened at Okuama and I sympathize with the families of the lost heroes, as well as innocent civilian lives lost in this issue. I’m not happy about the whole thing.

“The government should be well advised that they should not use the military in this wrong way, they are using the military very, very carelessly.

“The military is not made to make peace, and even if they make peace, they will kill people to make that peace.”

The Pere (traditional ruler) of Kabowei Kingdom in Patani Local Government Area, Delta State, HRM (Barr) Shadrach Peremobowei Erebulu, Aduo III, said: “It is a sad incident that we never envisaged in our dear state that has been peaceful.

“To the military, I urge them to employ their tactics in investigating and fishing out these persons. I know the military has a way they go about things, their intelligence. In doing that, let them be wary of attacking or hurting innocent persons because, at times like this, you may not know the perpetrators.

“If innocent persons are affected, it turns the whole ball around, so they should not cause more problems in the communities.’’