By Seyi Babalola
An Okuoma community youth, who says he’s a son of a former captain in the Nigerian Army that died last year, claimed in a TikTok video, that he was responsible for the killing of 16 soldiers in an ambush by youths. Okuama community, Ughelli South Local Council Area of Delta State.
The self-acclaimed leader of the killer-youths, justified their action, saying it was taken as a self-defence of his community, which he claimed had become a victim of oppression by their neighbour, Okoloba.
He alleged that some leaders of Okolobia, a community locked in war against Okuoma, had the backing of the federal government to oppress his community with military men.
He also alleged that while their neighbours were allowed to sell their ‘diesel’ with military escort, his people were subjected to attacks and killing.
He further alleged that contrary to claim by the Nigerian military, the soldiers his team killed were not on any peace mission; “they killed three youths they picked earlier and were coming back to Opuama to arrest our leaders”
In a statement titled “Rest in Peace, our Fallen Heroes,” the Nigerian Army identified the victims as Commanding Officer, 181 Amphibious Battalion, Lt.-Col. A.H. Ali, Majors S.D. Shafa and D.E. Obi, and Captain U. Zakari. Soldiers affected include Staff Sergeant Yahaya Saidu, Corporals Yahaya Danbaba and Kabiru Bashir, Lance Corporals Bulus Haruna, Sola Opeyemi, Bello Anas, Hamman Peter and Ibrahim Abdullahi. Others were Privates Alhaji Isah, Clement Francis, Abubakar Ali, Ibrahim Adamu and Adamu Ibrahim.