The Military Board of Inquiry, constituted by the Defence Headquarters to investigate the 17 soldiers brutally killed in Okuama Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta, has commenced sittings.
Warri Mirror confirms that the panel convened and kicked off its task on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at the Delta State Governor’s Office Annexe in Warri South Local Government Area of the State.
The meeting, which was scheduled for 2:00 p.m., did not start until about 3.45 p.m., with 6 stakeholders from the Okoloba Community, Bomadi Local Government Area, in attendance. The Okuama Community was, however, not represented in the meeting.
The Director-General, Security Services in Delta, Hon David Tonwe, who ushered the Okoloba stakeholders into excused journalists from the meeting room, stressing that they were not permitted to be part of the meeting.
It would be recalled that the slain soldiers, made up of a Commanding Officer, 2 Majors, 1 Captain, and 13 others, were allegedly ambushed and murdered on March 14, 2024.
It was further alleged that the killed soldiers were responding to a distress call in the crisis between Okoloba and Okuama communities who had allegedly been engaged in an aged-long land dispute.
Recall that the Delta State Governor, His Excellency, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori recently received the military board at the Governor’s office annexe, where he called for a transparent investigation into the killings.
Governor Oborevwori, who assured the panel that the State Government would provide them with useful information, however, noted that innocent citizens should not be made to suffer any further.
In his words, “We will also come up with our position paper to submit to you people before you leave. That will guide you on the role that we have played as a state because if we do not come with this position paper, you will not know the role that the state has played.”
Earlier, Chairman of the board of inquiry, AVM David Ajayi, said the panel was in the state to investigate the unfortunate incident that happened at Okuama, adding, “we are here on a fact-finding mission and not to apportion blame. We are here to gather facts from security agencies, community leaders, and community dwellers. This report will also help to ensure healthy communication that will enhance civil-military relations and ensure that economic activities thrive again in the affected communities.”
Ajayi, also used the opportunity to call on the Governor to assist the board in its assignment to ensure that relevant stakeholders were invited to give accounts of what led to the crisis.
The board is expected to be in Bayelsa over the weekend in continuation of its assignment.
