…Says, They’ll remain under Siege until Search and operation are  over

April 3, 2024, News/Comments

The Chief of Defence Staff, (CDS), General Christopher  Gwabin Musa while speaking on Arise TV morning show earlier today has assured Nigerians that the Army is committed towards defending the integrity of Nigeria, even as he stressed, the Force would not infringe into the rights of Nigerians. The CDS was reacting to the caging of   Okuama Community over the gruesome killing of seventeen soldiers on March 14, 2024, alleged have gone for land dispute –peace keeping between Okuama Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area and Okoloba in Bomadi Local Government, all in Delta State.

The situation has also left both communities, and by extension, part of Bayelsa state in disarray.

Meanwhile, Afrikanwatch Network, who monitored the interview on Arise TV saw Gen. Musa refuting  the claim that the military is over reaching itself, by taking over   police duty to investigate the killing of soldiers, and declaring people wanted. The CDS said, people tend to misunderstand military’s strategy when it comes to defence:

“ People tend to misunderstand that the military is established as the authority of the government to protect Nigeria and to protect Nigerians, and that is why we take it very seriously, when criminals take law into their hands against members of the armed forces or any citizen of the country.”

Gen. C.G. Musa

He reiterated, the issue of Okuama attack was premeditated just because some group of criminals, cultists , militants, want ill-wealth through crude oil theft while believing they are above bode, therefore can commit any grievous crime against the state  by killing our men- the commanding officer and his team, who have  ensured that any act of pipeline vandalisation, crude oil theft, illegal refineries, were completely eradicated from that region. Is that an issue, that a gallant commanding officer could be brutally killed with his team? Gen. Musa however recounted his experience with the late commanding officer:

“I had the privilege of being his theatre commander in the North  East; he did extremely very well and we brought him here to stabilize the North Central, and even North West, and he equally did same. And for him to be killed just like a chicken, beheaded, disband. No, that is unacceptable.”

Speaking on the order of Mr. President, The General noted:

“We are happy, the Commander-in-Chief has given us a mandate to recover  arms, and to arrest the perpetrators.  I know different kind of people have made comments, and some from lack of understanding. When you have a joint task force, it evolves member of the Armed Forces-Army, Airforce, Navy, police, DSS, DIA, and every other security agencies, are part of it. So, where we have arrest, we have a joint investigation team, so, it is not about Army taking law into its hands and I have had comment upon comment on what we are doing. Now, Once you have declared an operation, we have the rights and the mandates to arrest all kinds of crimes in Nigeria.”

The CDS defended the army , hinting that, the army did not go for any illegal operation as being alleged and padded in  some  media reports, stressing however, the Army were there legally for operation in Okuama,  and it was because the Commanding officer felt the threat was not that high, that was why he went there and felt he could discuss with the people, otherwise, that gallant officer if he had gone with arms, he could have erased everybody in that place, but he felt, these are the people he knows, these are Nigerians, that he could talk to, and when he went to talk to them, they were all shot and killed, and not only shot, their body parts cut and removed, and I think that is what all Nigerians should stand against.

Gen. Musa continued:

I had the Urhobo elders talking, yes, I have very serious respect for elders, because I would also like elders to speak on the position of strength . They cannot say, they don’t know what was going on there. I am sure you’re aware since they decapitated the body of those soldiers. There are a lot of human sacrifice ongoing in those areas, and it was just out of them showing in a way, that they have strength and that was why they were able to cut the head, hands, and disband those bodies while, removing the heart, and others. I do not know what that is for. What was the interest, and whatever the interest is, we remain focused and committed. If you notice, and our operation was highly regulated.

Ideally, before now, the army would have flatten all the communities within those areas. It was major, because we felt everybody was involved but we know a lot of people knew what was going on, and kept quiet. That makes it complicit,  but like I said, it was a major operation, and major response. We are conducting current search and operation , searching for our weapons, and arrest those who carried out this dastardly act.  I am happy for the traditional ruler who submitted himself to the authority, I wish all those declared wanted could do same. We are not animals, we are not barbaric,  going around killing people. If they have not touched our officers, nobody would be there.

The General hinted , there is nothing to  fear about, the traditional ruler who brough himself up. The Commissioner of Police who brought him up, handed him over to the joint task force, whereas the joint task force have the police component, and the investigation is being conducted by the joint task force. The Military would not do anything against any innocent Nigerian. The President has given us the mandate to conduct the operation, and I won’t ask him why. The traditional ruler is safe, nothing is going to happen to him, because, he cant tell us he doesn’t know what was happening, he has something to tell us.

Why the affected communities on locked down,

Gradually, when the Army finishes its search and operation. Search and operation means, we are searching every nook and cranny of the communities, because those involved in crude oil theft, have weapons, and many didn’t handover their arms. We are duty bound to protect Nigeria, and nothing will happen to the communities under our siege. As soon as we finish the current search and operation, and there is nothing incriminating, they will have access to their community, but again, like I said earlier, those communities know those criminals, some of them benefit from these criminals, and so, if they said, they don’t know them, or are not aware, they are far from the truth. Investigation will unravel most of this aspect. The Army remain very professional, that, I can assure you. We will not do anything to infringe on any human rights. Once the investigations are over, everybody will return to his normal duty in the community.

It is extremely painful , I barely sleep anytime I close my eyes, I remember the families. Most of the officer’s wives were pregnant, 3, 5, 6, 7. Now, they have lost their husbands. These children will come to this world without knowing their fathers, all because they wanted to protect their country. They will grow up without their fathers, there are so much to be done. But Mr. President has assured the families of his government support, and has even given all the children of our fallen heroes scholarships, houses, and national honour. The Army will remain professional and will always do the right thing.

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