No fewer than 22 people, including army Commander, two majors, a captain and 12 soldiers have lost their lives while on a peace mission to Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.
The soldiers and civilians were reportedly ambushed along the treacherous creeks by armed men and mercenaries of the community on Wednesday – The scoundrels gruesomely mùrdered them the following day, Thursday.
The soldiers, it was learnt, were on Wednesday drafted from the Bomadi Division of the JTF to the troubled community when they met their saddening end.
The team was said to have been led by one Lt Col Ali. 
•Gallant Officer Ali
It was gathered that the team had embarked on a mission to Okuama community to rescue a kidnapped youth, Mr Anthony Aboh, an indigene of neighbouring Okoloba community in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State.
Director of information at the Defence Headquarters, Tukur Gusau, who confirmed the incident, said 16 Nigerian soldiers on a peace mission, were surrounded by youths and kìlled on Thursday, in Okuama Bomadi LGA of Delta state.
Gusau disclosed that some suspects have been arrested in connection to the incident, and that Christopher Musa, chief of defence staff, has directed an immediate probe on it.
He also said the incident has been reported to the Delta state government
“The troops of 181 Amphibious Battalion, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, while on a peace mission to Okuama community in BOMADI LGA of Delta State were surrounded by some community youths and killed on Thursday, 14 March 2024.
“The unfortunate incident occurred when the troops responded to a distress call after the communal crisis between the Okuama and Okoloba communities both in Delta State.
“The reinforcement team led by the Commanding officer was also attacked, leading to the death of the Commanding officer, two Majors, one Captain, and 12 Soldiers.
“CDS has directed the immediate investigation and arrest of those involved in the heinous crime. The occurrence has been reported to the Delta State Govt.
“However, the military remains focused and committed to its mandate of maintaining peace and security in the country.
“So far, a few arrests have been made while steps are in place to unravel the motive behind the attack. Additional details later,” he stated.
Clashes between soldiers and restive communities oil rich Niger Delta region are rife
The Daily Crucible reports that residents and people of Okuama in Ughelli South Local Government Area and Okolaba in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, have fled the communities as soldiers surged into the area following the killing of 16 soldiers, including senior officers.
According to Channels Television report Saturday night, 15 bodies of the military personnel were recovered by soldiers of the Joint Task Force under the supervision of the General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, at the Okuama community.
Some of the retrieved remains of the fallen soldiers had their heads severed, while the stomachs of others were ripped apart with some of the vital organs suspectedly stolen or missing.
At the NDDC jetty in the community, the remains of the commanding officer and two Majors could be seen floating by the river bank.
However, the entire communities in the Bomadi and Ughelli South local government areas have been cordoned off by troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, who also exercises jurisdiction over the 63 brigade in Asaba.
Although clashes between neighbouring communities are almost a routine but what led to current bloodletting and killing of military personnel was triggered a communal land dispute which began January 27, 2024 when some youths from Okoloba were said to have ambushed and killed three Indigenes of Okuama – all youths – Igho Meshack, Godspower Awusa and Okiemute Agbabuleke, over land dispute.
The three youths were returning from Okwagbe when they were attacked and killed, and their corpses were still hidden by the assailants.
Enraged youths of Some Okuama on Wednesday reportedly ambushed one Mr Anthony Aboh, an indigene of Okoloba, and held him hostage, prompting Chairman of the Okoloba community to alert the Divisional Police Officer, Bomadi Police Division, the Joint Task Force, the Department of State Service, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps about the unfolding abduction.
The Daily Crucible learnt that the JTF personnel who dashed to Okuama on rescue mission came under attack as the youths opened fire on them at the waterfront and killed two soldiers with some others missing.
The killings degenerated to a gun duel between the youths and the military, leading to some soldiers sustaining severe bullet wounds and during the fierce but surprising encounter, some of the soldiers reportedly managed to escape with the two wounded colleagues and evacuated them to an undisclosed hospital in Bomadi.
