Delta State Commissioner of Police Olufemi Abaniwonda said his men were yet to enter the Okuama community in the Ughelli South Local government area after it was allegedly burnt down by military men protesting the killing of 16 soldiers.
Okuama remains a ghost town as residents of the community fled the area ahead of an invasion by the army in reprisal attack. Most of the houses have been razed even as the Nigeria army authority has denied any involvement in the burning down of the community.
Last Thursday 16 soldiers including their commanders were killed after they had gone on a peace mission there. Members of the community from their hiding denied any involvement in their mysterious death. They call on the government to carry out a thorough investigation on the matter, claiming that the soldiers killed about 50 members of their community.
Speaking during an interview on Arise TV Mr. Abaniwonda said. “In the Okuama incident, we have an ongoing military operation there.
“We have not been able to move into this community. Yes it is our responsibility as the primary line of defense in internal security. But when you have another sister agency conducting an operation, the reasonable thing to do is to wait for them to finish.
“Effort is being made to ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are brought to book. We are working in conjunction with other security agencies and I can assure you that we are making progress.”
“Most of the places are deserted. I would not like to say more than that. It’s an ongoing military operation. I think when these things are ongoing, it is better that things are not said that might aggravate or pass information to those who are looking for.”
“We have not been able for now to get into Okuama because of the volatile nature of what is presently ongoing around that environment.”
