In the heart of the Niger Delta Region, a chilling narrative unfolds, echoing the grim tales of Odi and Zaki-Biam. The community of Okuama, in the Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, recently witnessed an unspeakable horror.
On March 14, 2024, the 181 Amphibious Battalion, Bomadi, was dispatched to Okuama. The mission was a peace initiative, aimed at resolving a lingering dispute with neighboring Okoloba, in the Bomadi Local Government Area. However, the peace mission took a tragic turn when the bodies of four officers and 12 men started floating on the river bank.
The dead included Lt. Col Abdullahi Alli, two majors, a captain, and other ranks. Some of the mutilated bodies were found without heads, a sight that sent shockwaves across the nation. The question that arises is, “Don’t we ever learn from experience?”.
The Okuama incident is reminiscent of the Odi massacre in 1999 and the Zaki-Biam incident in 2001. In both instances, entire communities were razed following the murder of security personnel. The aftermath of these incidents left indelible scars on the nation’s conscience.
The Federal Government is grappling with insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West, and agitations in the South-East. Amidst these challenges, the resurgence of violence in the Niger Delta Region, the custodian of the nation’s wealth, is a cause for concern.
The Defence Headquarters has yet to issue a statement on the aftermath of the Okuama killings. However, it is crucial to remember that Nigeria is not a jungle where the rule of law has no effect. The reaction to the death of soldiers should not be to destroy the area of crime.
It is wrong for an entire community to be punished for the crime of a few. The proper course of action should be to fish out the criminals and deal with them according to the law. From Odi to Okuama, the cycle of violence continues. But for how long will this continue? Only time will tell.