Why soldiers turn ‘peace meeting’ to shooting spree, killing 50 people in Delta – ResidentsI

Residents disclosed that on Thursday, March 14, 2024, the killed soldiers arrived on two gunboats for peace keeping with the chairman of the community.

It was gathered that the people received the soldiers warmly and offered them kola nuts.

However, there was tension after the military personnel insisted on taking away the community chairman and some leaders for further questioning after the peace talk, causing the residents to revolt.

This, they said, enraged the soldiers, causing them to open fire on the people, killing about 50 persons. As a result, several residents fled the community and went into hiding.

Although the residents did not reveal the community’s role in the brutal execution of 16 military personnel later that day, they said on March 15, the soldiers returned for a second attack, setting fire to houses in the community.

A resident, who pleaded for anonymity noted that, “On March 14, military personnel visited Okuama and the people welcomed them. They first said they wanted to walk around the community; they walked around and said they wanted to go to the town hall for a peace talk. The people entertained them as is customary with such visits.

“They asked for the community chairman and leaders. They sat with them and they held peace talks together. After that, they asked the community chairman and some other leaders to follow them.

“The people said they had already held peace talks with them, but they said they must take the leaders away.

“The community refused, and from there, the army turned the whole story to violence. Right there in the community town hall, the army started shooting our people there.

“People started running, some were killed instantly, and people ran away because nobody expected shooting by the army that very day.

“Then, the army left, but within a while, they came back with more reinforcement, gunboats, and other things.

“Instantly, about 20 persons were killed, and when they came back again, they began to shoot, they killed nothing less than 50 persons on that day.

“Then, the following day, they mobilised again, some from Bomadi, Okwagbe, they came together and burned the whole community down, that was on March 15.”

Confirming the incident, a community leader said: “That very day (March 14), we didn’t expect what happened as we saw two gunboats come with the army. We were surprised, but the army maintained that they came for peace talks, so we welcomed and entertained them.

“When they wanted to go, they said they wanted to take our chairman and the leaders along, but the community refused, so the army changed all of a sudden, and they did not act as people we just entertained

“They opened fire, and in the process of firing, our youth, old women, and children died on the spot. More than 20 died instantly.

“They left but came back and opened fire again, raising the casualties to 50, and they returned on March 15, and burnt every house in Okuama community.”

A mother said: “Some of us have yet to see our children since March 14. We have been hiding in the bush, some dead bodies are there. Therefore, we want the government to come and rescue us.”

Speaking on the killing of the soldiers, she refutes claims that the community initiated the attack on the army, saying “The army came to meet us and we entertained them.

“It was after the peace talks, they said they wanted to take our leaders away. We did not attack the army in the river; it was their insistence to take away the community chairman, secretary, and other leaders that led to the shooting.

“They killed the youth, women, and children in the town hall but there was confusion everywhere, therefore, people ran helter-skelter.

“We are calling for a full-scale investigation into this incident for government to find out those who killed our people and the soldiers also.’’