Days after the killing of at least 16 soldiers and officers of the Nigerian Army in the Okuoma community of Delta, the State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, visited President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.
Oborevwori told State House correspondents after the meeting that the situation is under control, assuring Nigerians that there will be no further attacks.
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However, he declined to confirm alleged reprisal attacks by the military and the number of casualties, saying he is constrained to speak on such issues as an unfolding security matter.
Oborevwori said he met with the security heads in Bomadi on Monday but has yet to meet members of the community involved, as they are currently dispersed and at large.
At least 16 Nigerian soldiers were killed while on a peacekeeping mission to douse clashes between Okuama and Okoloba communities in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.
A Commanding Officer, two Majors, one Captain, 12 soldiers, and one civilian lost their lives in the ambush on Thursday, March 14, 2024.
15 bodies of the soldiers were recovered by soldiers of the Joint Task Force under the supervision of General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam.
Responding to the development in a statement he signed on Sunday, Tinubu vowed retribution, saying, “The cowardly offenders responsible for this heinous crime will not go unpunished.”
The response was titled ‘Statement on the killing of Nigerian soldiers on a peace mission to Okuoma community in Delta State.’
While noting that the military high command is already responding to the incident, Tinubu gave fresh marching orders for the manhunt and prosecution of the perpetrators, saying, “The Defence Headquarters and Chief of Defence Staff have been granted full authority to bring to justice anybody found to have been responsible for this unconscionable crime against the Nigerian people.”