Abraham Ogbodo, an Urhobo leader and former Editor of the Guardian Newspaper, has stated that the recent killing of 17 military personnel in Okuama, Delta State, is likely linked to crude oil, a common factor in many Niger Delta conflicts.
Appearing as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Ogbodo remarked that the conflict resulting in the military personnel’s deaths was oil-related. “It’s a fact that no significant event occurs in the Niger Delta without being tied to oil,” he asserted.
He also mentioned that this connection has been previously acknowledged and confirmed by the Chief of Army Staff. Ogbodo expressed confusion over the search for additional explanations.
He emphasized the importance of maintaining this perspective, noting that if investigations implicate anyone in the killings, there should be no objections to holding them accountable.
The incident in question involved the brutal murder of four officers and 13 soldiers who were responding to a peace-keeping mission aimed at resolving a dispute between the neighboring communities of Okuama and Okoloba in Delta State on March 14, 2024.
The Urhobo leader questioned the circumstances leading to the deployment of officers and soldiers to Okuama, pondering whether it was the community or the local government that requested their presence for the peace mission.
He expressed concern that the true nature of the incident remains unclear, as the community has yet to share its perspective, leaving a single narrative from the military as the prevailing account.
When asked about the allegation that Okuama community youths killed 17 military personnel, Ogbodo stated, “That is what needs to be determined, which is why the President established an investigation team. Since no investigation has been conducted, that claim has not been confirmed. Jumping to such a conclusion is premature.”
Ogbodo also suggested that the killings were not straightforward, doubting the notion that mere community boys could overpower such distinguished officers.
He added, “The narrative doesn’t end with the killings; the bodies were reportedly mutilated. This suggests a deep-seated anger, an attempt to exact revenge for some unresolved grievance.”
“It goes beyond just a community. A rural community, as we understand, lacks the means to inflict such a profound tragedy,” he stated.
READ ALSO: Tinubu, Govs Pay Final Respects As Military Buries Gallant Soldiers
The former editor also expressed that there is no justification for the killings of the officers and soldiers. He advocated for an independent investigation to uncover the truth behind the tragic event.
He argued that the military should not be involved in conducting the investigation, proposing that it should be undertaken by independent bodies such as the police and the Department for State Services (DSS).
“The investigation ought to be conducted by independent bodies; we have the police, the DSS, and other agencies capable of doing so. Collaboration is essential, but the military’s involvement? The area is inaccessible; even the governor couldn’t gain entry,” he explained.
Ogbodo emphasized that the innocent should not be punished, maintaining that there is unanimous support for capturing the perpetrators and subjecting them to the full extent of the law.
Seventeen fallen military personnel were laid to rest at the Military Cemetery in Abuja on Wednesday, with President Bola Tinubu, National Assembly leaders, senior military officials, and other dignitaries in attendance.
President Tinubu posthumously bestowed national honors on the deceased officers and soldiers and granted their children scholarships up to the university level.
Subsequently, the Defence Headquarters issued a wanted notice for eight individuals implicated in the deaths of the seventeen military members.
