Due to impending danger and threat to life, Founder and President of Soccer For Peace Foundation and Peqce Activist, Ozuem Esiri Onyebolise continues to call for peace and focus on the crisis in Okuama Community.
Lost of lives and properties and a deep sense of fear from the villagers has caused most of them to flee their homes and hide in neighboring surroundings.
It is very tragic that on Thursday, March 14, 2024, 16 Nigerian soldiers from the 181 Amphibious Battalion were killed while on a mission to halt clashes between two warring communities, Okuama and Okoloba, in Delta State and the Okuama community was razed during the early hours of Sunday, March 17, three days after the soldiers were killed.
it’s not clear who razed the houses, but there are strong allegations that soldiers are behind it to retaliate against the death of their colleagues. Residents have been forced to flee their homes to the neighbouring Ughelli community for fear of further reprisal attacks from soldiers.
In view of the tragic turn of events, I call on the military authorities to halt the destruction of the properties of innocent people Okuama communities. As collective punishment is a serious offence under domestic and international law. Innocent civilians should not be harmed over the actions of the perpetrators.
Some concerns raised were
Why was the King, Chiefs or Youth leaders not informed of the Army visit on a Peace MISSION to their community in advance ?
Where did the community source such sophisticated weapons to wage a war against a well trained Nigerian Army a Lt. Col, Major , Captain and over 12 other Nigeria Army ?
Was Okuama and Okoloba at war for 15 soldiers to be gruesomely killed in less than 24hrs ?
Who were the civilians that took the Army to Okuama for the Peace MISSION ? How come they survived and lived to tell the stories but the soldiers did not ?
Why were the Police , DSS and other sister security agencies not involved in the Peace MISSION?
I believe this has made me a target as I consider my life at risk and I fear for my Safety due to anonymous calls and suspicious activities around me but I will continue to raise my voice in soliciting to the Federal government, State government and Nigeria Army to set up a panel of investigations to the matter on ground and normality returned to the Community.
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