Fresh twist as Military alleges involvement of local monarchs, communities in murder of 17 soldiers in Delta

Fresh developments have emerged in the investigation into the murder of 17 soldiers in Delta State, as the Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, suggests that local monarchs in Okuama and neighbouring communities may have played a role in the killings.

Following the ambush and murder of the Commanding Officer of 181 Army battalion, two majors, one captain, and 13 soldiers in Delta State, the Defence Headquarters has declared eight suspects wanted.

The incident occurred during a response to a clash between Okuama and Okoloba communities. Among those wanted is the traditional ruler of Ewu Kingdom, Clement Ikolo, who has surrendered himself to the police and subsequently taken into army custody for questioning.

However, the Traditional Rulers Council of Chiefs in Ewu-Urhobo, Delta State, has called for Ikolo’s immediate release, asserting that they and their detained colleague have no connection to the communal crisis leading to the soldiers’ murder.

The monarchs argued that they and their detained colleague were not connected to the communal crisis that led to the murder of the 17 soldiers.

“His Majesty (Ikolo) is in no way associated with the ongoing feud between Okoloba and Okuama Communities, let alone the tragic killing of army personnel,” the monarchs said in the statement.

‘They can’t deny their involvment’

But reacting when he appeared as a guest on Arise TV’s The Morning Show on Wednesday, Mr Musa, an army general, insisted that the monarchs from the Urhobo ethnic group within the warring communities were complicit in the murder.

“I have heard the Urhobo leaders talking. I have very serious respect for elders. But I would also like elders to speak from a position of strength.

“They (Urhobo monarchs) cannot say that they do not know what is going on there. I am sure that you know that since they murdered the soldiers, there are a lot of human sacrifices ongoing in those areas and it was just part of them showing a way of saying they have strength and that was why they were able to kill the soldiers,” he said.

“We know that a lot of people knew what was going on and kept quiet and that makes them complicit. Maybe he (Ikolo) did not take part directly, but he will not tell us he does not have the knowledge or understanding of what was going on (in Okuama).

“So, those (residents of the) communities (within the Urhobo ethnic group) know these criminals. Some of them benefit from this act of criminality. But investigations will unravel most of these things,” Mr Musa stated.

‘Bodies of slain soldiers were dismembered, private parts removed’

Mr Musa said the bodies of the slain soldiers were dismembered, with their private parts removed by the hoodlums who murdered them.

He said the slain commanding officer went to Okuama unarmed because it was a peacekeeping mission and he had thought he could restore peace between the warring communities.

“When he (the commanding officer) tried to talk to them (the community members), they (the soldiers) were rounded up and shot. And not only shot, their body parts were cut, and their hands and private parts were removed. I think that’s what all Nigerians should stand up against,” he said.

Musa said the hoodlums murdered the soldiers because they were angry that the commanding officer and his team had been destroying illegal refineries to end crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region.

“The attack (against the soldiers) was premeditated just because the group of criminals, cultists and militants that make a lot of money from crude oil theft, believe they are above board.

“They murdered the soldiers deliberately just because the commanding officer and his team were ensuring that any acts of pipeline vandalisation, crude oil theft, and illegal refineries were completely eradicated from that region,” he said.

The army chief claimed that the hoodlums had been profiting from illegal crude oil theft. He stated that they utilised the proceeds to purchase weapons and ammunition for their criminal endeavours.