. Killing of soldiers in Delta demoralizing – COAS
.Security Chiefs, Governors attend burial in Abuja
.As 2 communities blame Tompolo for soldiers’ death
President Bola Tinubu has conferred posthumous national honours on the 17 soldiers who were killed in Okuama community of Delta State.
The award was conferred at the burial ceremony held at the National Cemetery, Abuja, on Wednesday, March 27.
This was announced in a post by the special assistant to President Tinubu on social media, Dada Olusegun.
He wrote: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has posthumously awarded the 17 heroes of the Okuama massacre with National Honours
He announced these during the burial ceremony of the slain servicemen at the National Military
Tinubu posthumously conferred the national honour of Member of the Order of the Niger on the Commanding Officer 181 Amphibious Battalion, Lt. Col. A.H Ali; Maj S.D Shafa (N/13976); Maj D.E Obi (N/14395) and Capt U Zakari (N/16348).
He also conferred the honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger on SSgt Yahaya Saidu (#3NA/36/2974); Cpl Yahaya Danbaba (1ONA/65/7274); Cpl Kabiru Bashir (11NA/66/9853); LCpl Bulus Haruna (16NA/TS/5844); LCpl Sola Opeyemi (17NA/760719); LCpl Bello Anas (17NA/76/290); LCpl Hamman Peter (NA/T82653); LCpl Ibrahim Abdullahi (18NA/77/1191); Pte Alhaji Isah (17NA/76/6079); Pte Clement Francis (19NA/78/0911); Pte Abubakar Ali (19NA/78/2162); Pte Ibrahim Adamu (19NA/78/6079) and Pte Adamu Ibrahim (21NA/80/4795).
Tinubu, who broke with the infamous tradition of his predecessor, President Muhammadu Buhari, arrived at the National Cemetery venue of the burial of the 17 army personnel killed in Delta State at about 4:08 pm
He was the special guest of honour at the event.
Buhari never honoured any of the fallen heroes with his presence at their burial
Other personalities at the National Cemetery for the burial are Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, Kano State Governor, Yusuf Abba Gida, Imo State Governor, Bayelsa State Governor, Deputy Senate President, and Speaker of House of Representatives.
Others are Minister of Defence, Mohammad Badaru, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, and the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Manuel Ogalla.
The army personnel were killed by youths while on a peace mission in Delta State.
Tinubu promises houses, scholarships for families of slain soldiers
The President also said the families of the soldiers would be provided housing and full educational scholarships to the university level.
He said this during his speech at the burial ceremony as announced in a post by Dada Olusegun.
He wrote: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu says the federal government will provide housing to each of the families of the fallen heroes anywhere they choose within the country.
“The federal government also awarded the children of the fallen heroes full educational scholarships to the University level including the ones still in the womb of their mothers. FG also appeals to the Military Pensions Board that all their emoluments must be paid within 90 days.”
However, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has described the recent killing of military personnel in Delta State as demoralising.
He noted that it was sad that those responsible for their deaths were those they swore to protect.
According to him, the personnel were on a legitimate duty when they met their deaths.
Lagbaja spoke at the burial ceremony for the slain personnel in Abuja on Wednesday.
He also said that a total of 21 children had been orphaned and 10 women widowed by the actions of the culprits.
Lagbaja, however, sought the cooperation of the community to apprehend the culprits of the heinous crime.
Lagbaja said, “The Okuama killing has added to the care of the Nigerian Army and, by extension, the Nigeria state – 10 windows (three of whom are 4, 5, and 8 months pregnant), 21 orphans, and many other dependents which include parents. While commiserating with the families of these gallant soldiers, I assure them that the Nigerian Army and the good people of this country will not leave them in the cold. We shall do all within our power to provide succor to them and preserve the memories of their departed loved ones.”
He noted that the Army will not be deter by the incidents, vowing that the culprits would be brought to book.
He said, “I assure Mr. President and all Nigerians that the Nigerian Army remains committed to its constitutional responsibilities and will not be deterred by setbacks such as witnessed in the Okuama community. As tasked by Mr President and Commander-In-Chief of our Armed Forces, the Nigerian Army, with the assistance of its sister services and other security agencies, is committed to bringing the perpetrators of the Okuama murder to book and recover all service and personal belongings taken from the murdered troops.
“The Nigerian Army will continue to seek the cooperation of all well-meaning Nigerians, particularly in the affected area, toward swift and successful conduct of our search and recovery operations.”
.As 2 communities blame Tompolo for soldiers’ death
In another development, Two riverine communities have blamed former warlord Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo also known as Tompolo for the gruesome murder of Nigerian Army officers and soldiers on Delta State last week.
The communities have also dispatched a highly worded petition to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to hold Tompolo to account for “his clandestine and murderous activities in the Niger Delta region.”
Leaders of the communities, Chief Peppleowei Daopu and High Chief Newman James Okpeke of Okuama and Igbomotoro Communities also urged the Federal Government to stop the military from continuing the reprisal attack in the areas which has led to systematic destruction of villages and killing of innocent villagers.
The community called on world leaders and international organizations to prevail on the military to withdraw its troops from the villages occupied as a result of the Incident.
According to the community leaders, “Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo a.k.a Tompolo has been alleged to be behind the killings in Okuama and Igbomotoru communities where Nigerian soldiers were beheaded like chicken.
“We have it on good authority that the boats used by the military to their murderous expedition to Okuama are owned by Tompolo’s Tantita Security Company. It is also strongly believed that Tompolo sponsored the logistics for the boat operations as he has always provided the army in the Niger Delta.
“Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo a.k.a Tompolo long ago pocketed and deploys the soldiers to do his evil biddings. At this juncture, it will be pertinent to state that Tompolo is acting as the De-facto President of Nigeria, on the Niger Delta.
“He is running a parallel government, anti-establishment – whereby apart from the President, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation of Nigeria (SGF), Chief of Staff to Mr. President, Private Principal Secretary to Mr. President, National Security Adviser (NSA), and top military brass most especially the Nigerian Army are under his command and control.
“The army in the Niger Delta and their bosses in Abuja are in his pay roll – ready to be deployed for his illegal bunkering activities and vendetta war. It is also pitiable that the same Tompolo influences posting of soldiers to the Niger Delta by providing ammunition and funding of their operations to cover his nefarious bunkering activities under the guise of pipeline surveillance contracts.
“This is the crux of the matter that forced soldiers to act Tompolo’s script without minding the consequences of their actions. The question now is why was the police (the lead security agency) barred from Okuama and Igbomotoro communities during the killings till date?. Why was Delta State Governor, as the Chief Security Officer of the state also barred from visiting the communities?
“The killings in Okuama and Igbomotoro were motivated by million dollar largesse doled out by Tompolo and Patrick Akpobolokemi. What would have motivated an ARMY COLONEL AND TWO MAJORS to leave their duty posts (181 Battalion, Bomadi) and embark on the heinous, illegal and perfidious murder of innocent and harmless people of Okuama and Igbomotoro.
“The question is where was the Chief of Defence Staff when the first killings of innocent civilians by the Army? Were the soldiers on a legitimate duty at Okuama/Igbomotoro? Who funded the murderous army operations at Okuama and Igbomotoro? Where were the Tantita Security boats that conveyed the soldiers to Okuama/Igbomotoro for the illegal operations. Where is Patrick Akpobolokemi who ignited the killings in Okuama Community now? He must be arrested and prosecuted for the murder of innocent souls.
“We call on the Amnesty International, the United Nations, the International Human Rights Commission, the European Union, the African Union, ECOWAS, the International Red Cross, the USA Embassy in Nigeria, the British High Commission and relevant bodies to intervene in this pogrom metted against innocent people by the Nigeria Army funded by Tompolo’s Tantita.
“As it is now, the loss of lives of innocents Okuama and Igbomotoru who were murdered in cold blood doesn’t matter?. As if they are not human beings. Instead they have been turned to refuges in their ancestral land in order to silence their voices and the truth from being heard,” the community leaders pleaded.
