There is no one left in Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State where Army officers and men were killed, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori said yesterday.
Describing the incident as strange, he said he was unable to reach any of the community leaders.
The governor said he received an update from the military, and that the the situation was under control.
The member representing the community in the House of Representatives, Francis Waive, told his colleagues at the Green Chamber yesterday that his people were hiding in the bush.
Oborevwori spoke with reporters at the State House, Abuja, after briefing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on developments.
The Army put the number of those killed at 17, including four officers.
The officers are Lt. Col. A.H Ali, Maj. Safa, Maj. D.E Obi, and Captain U. Zakari.
The soldiers are Staff Sergeant Yahaya Saidu, Corporal Yahaya Danbaba, Corporal Kabir Bashir, Lance Corporals Bulus Haruna, Sole Opeyemi, Bello Anas, Haman Peter and Ibrahim Abdullahi.
The rest are Privates Alhaji Isah, Clement Francis, Abubakar Ali, Ibrahim Adamu and Adamu Ibrahim.
The officers and soldiers were on a peace mission when those believed to be Okuama youths ambushed and murdered them on Thursday.
More outrage greeted the dastardly act yesterday.
The Senate, House of Representatives, prominent Nigerians and groups called for a thorough investigation.
They want the perpetrators brought to justice.
The Senate, which observed a minute’s silence in honour of the slain officers and men, mandated its committees on the Army, Defence, Air Force and Navy to investigate the killings.
Immediate past Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, called for an independent investigative panel to unearth the true nature of the incident.
Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri warned against drawing hasty conclusions on the killings or politicising the situation.
The Urhobo Traditional Rulers and the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) called for an independent truth commission on the killings and the underlying causes.
The Forum of Delta State Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) called for a special panel to probe the incident.
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) urged the community leaders to expose those behind the killings.
Oborevwori said while his government has met with the military, it has not been able to meet with the community leaders because the place has been deserted.
He added: “First and foremost, the community has been deserted. So, the issue of whether we’ve been able to see the community leaders, no. We’ve only gotten full briefing from the Army and we’re on it because this week the traditional council is going to meet and discuss. I’m going to invite stakeholders. We’re on top of it.”
The governor said a security meeting was held on Monday with the heads of security agencies in attendance.
“We’re on the same page to fish out the real culprits because innocent people will not suffer for it. They have assured us that no innocent person will be victimised.”
Oborevwori said peace and security were key priorities of his administration.
According to him, he had worked with other stakeholders from Okuama and Okoloba to address the age-long rivalry between them.
The governor said: “Since last year, we’ve been enjoying peace. We commend all the security agencies, but an unfortunate thing happened last week. People who don’t know the issues are talking.
The two communities have been having issues for years. On February 7, they were invited by the state government. The two communities – the members representing the two local governments, the council chairmen and the leaders of those communities – were invited.
They agreed to work together and signed a peace accord. This unfortunate incident is very sad because Delta is governed by the tenets of the rule of law and decency. I promised Deltans that I’d be the governor of all and we’ve been enjoying peace. One of my M.O.R.E. Agenda is that we’ll enhance peace and security, and that’s what we’ve been doing.
What is happening now is something that we did not bargain for, but we want to assure everybody that there’ll be no more attacks on the villages. Those who are culpable will be brought to book, but the innocent citizens will not be attacked.”
He said the families of those killed will not be abandoned.
“The people that have been killed, the officers and soldiers – we must see how we can find succour for their families and give them a befitting burial,” Oborevwori said.
