The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, says the Nigerian Army will continue to conduct military operation in Okuama community of Ewu Kingdom in Delta State until missing equipment and arms are recovered.
Abdussalam also confirmed the presence of soldiers in Okuama community on Monday, saying they were there in continuation of ongoing military operation in the area over the killing of 17 military personnel around the community.
Recall that gunmen in military uniforms on Monday attacked the community, destroying property belonging to internally displaced returnees including food items, boats, makeshift buildings and others.
Monday’s attack on Okuama, reports have it that three persons were shot dead and six persons arrested or missing, while several persons were also alleged to have sustained injuries in the melee.
In a reprisal attacks following the gruesome murder of 17 military personnel around Okuama community in Ughelli South LGA of Delta State, soldiers invaded and destroyed every building in the community except one of the church buildings where returnees are now occupying.
Abdussalam spoke on Tuesday at Effurun in Uvwie, Delta State, while fielding questions from journalists during the commissioning of 3 Battalion Soldiers Transit Accommodation constructed by Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited.
The GOC, who however, did not confirmed killing or arresting residents during the operation, maintained that the exercise would be a continuous one until missing military equipment in the area are fully recovered.
In his address at the event, Abdussalam said, “I will remember with sadness, the event of March 14th where our troops were brutally murdered in Okuama. We will not rest, we will continue to conduct operation until our equipments and our arms that were carted away have been recovered.”
But while fielding questions from journalists, the Army officer said “I don’t understand what you mean by soldiers invaded the place. This is Nigeria, if there are soldiers there; they are not coming from another country.
“If Nigerian Army goes to a place and conduct operation, why do you say invade? We are not going to another country. It is Nigeria. If we are conducting operation anywhere we are conducting normal military operation. So, it was normal military operations.”
When asked if it was his men or criminal elements in military uniforms that attacked Okuama on Monday, Abdussalam said, “This is the same allegation that was used to kill our troops – that civilians were using our uniforms. We know that there are criminals that use military uniforms from time-to-time, but they don’t move in gunboats. Gunboats with guns mounted on them and with the inscription of Army on them.”
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