Okuama killings: Army declares eight wanted
The Nigerian Army has declared eight persons wanted in connection with the killing of 17 of its soldiers in Okuama community, Delta state.
According to a release from the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, the eight persons which includes seven men and one woman were declared wanted over their roles in the recent killing of 17 military personnel in Delta State.
The list released by the military shows that a Professor is among them.
According to a post on its official X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday, the Nigerian Army also posted the list of the suspects, saying they will answer for the March 14, 2024 killing of the Officers and Soldiers of the 181 Amphibious Battalion, Asaba, the Delta State capital.
The names on the wanted list include: Akevwru Daniel Omotegbono, Professor Ekpekpo Arthur, Andaowei Dennis Bakriki, Goli Ebi (female), Akata Malawa David, Sinclear Oliki, Clement Ikolo Oghenerukevwe, Reuben Baru.
The deceased soldiers were buried on Wednesday at the National Cementelll lol peoplery Abuja. President Bola Tinubu has also conferred national honours award on the dead soldiers.
He also announced scholarships for children of the dead soldiers up to university level, as well as free housing for their families.
Meanwhile, a renowned legal practitioner and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Femi Falana has argued that the action declaring eight persons wanted is illegal.
According to the legal luminary, “The decision of the defence headquarters to declare the murder suspects wanted is completely illegal. Let the federal government direct the defence headquarters to hand over the investigation of the suspects involved in the gruesome murder of the 17 officers and soldiers.
“It ought to be pointed out that murder is not a military offence to warrant investigation by the defence headquarters. If the federal government fails to call the defence headquarters to order, the case concerning the tragic murder of the soldiers will be completely bungled.”
