News

17 SOLDIERS: CHILLING DISCOVERIES AT OKUAMA

Published

2 years ago

April 12, 2024

Ochuwa Ibrahim

17 SOLDIERS: CHILLING DISCOVERIES AT OKUAMA

By: Zagazola Makama

Since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu vowed to ensure justice on the brutal killing of 17 soldiers at Okuama community, Ughelli Local Government Area, Delta State, and his consequent matching order to the Nigerian Army to thoroughly investigate and fish out the perpetrators of the dastardly act, facts revealed by every passing day firmly point at the entire community as complicit, not just the group of militants who actually carried out the execution.

In response to the President’s directives, the military high command ordered the extension of the search for suspected killers of the 17 soldiers in the Okuama community. Before the Operation, leaders of the community alleged that soldiers had begun targeting innocent civilians in the community rather than going after the miscreants who committed the crime.

Further searches fan across the community and sink deeper into the affairs and proclivities of its residents have revealed, with firmer confirmation, that the entire Okuama, from its traditional and community leaders and other elites down to the lowest residents in socioeconomic and political status is a community of militants thriving on terror.

But even before the Operation to find the culprit began, leaders of the community had orchestrated an allegation in the media that soldiers were targeting innocent civilians in the community rather than going after the miscreants who committed the crime. This move which some observers saw as being contrived to cast the military in bad light and to demonize its operation, did not deter them from going after the killers of the soldiers and masterminds of the crime.

Military investigations, which have, all through, been conducted in the finest and most-careful fashion to guard against incriminating innocent citizens, according to the presidential directive, findings have been revealing the most-chilling set up of Okuama and its surrounding communities.

First, all expressions of sympathy and commiseration by the traditional rulers, tending to exonerate themselves from the act, as well as their commitment to aid the military in the search for the perpetrators, are all feigned. The wider the search, and the deeper the investigation, the more glaring the complicity of the community’s elites and traditional rulers.

Second, and most-chilling, the deeper the military’s search across the community to disarm the residents, in compliance with directives, the more it is discovered that the entire community is sitting on an expansive cache of arms, which the youthful militants deploy to unleash terror on the behest and command of their elders and elites.

On April 10, 2024, troops of 63 Brigade conducted a raid/ cordon and search operations at Olota Community of Ugheli South LGA of Delta State confirming all these facts about Okuama and its surrounding communities with regard to their stockpile of arms for terror activities.

During the Search of the residence of one Mr Kenneth, who escaped on sighting the troops, the team discovered one G3 rifle, 853 rounds of 7.62 MM Nato and 19 rounds of 7.62 Special MM.

A further search of other locations within the community led to the discovery of 4 G3 rifles and Magazines, one pump action gun and 3 Sub Machine Guns, Magazines and 476 carriages. Additionally, the troops recovered 5 dane guns and one big plastic containing substances suspected to be Carbis satin.

Armed with robust intelligence effort, the military were said to have stormed a number of hideouts and homes of individuals suspected to be complicit in the heinous crime. The operations, however, paid off with the arrest of three leaders of the Olota community in Ugheli South LGA of the state.

The arrest of the three identified individuals followed a painstaking effort of the military to track down the masterminds and killers of the soldiers. The manhunt of the perpetrators has compelled the military to look beyond Okuama community as they are said to have extended their dragnet to surrounding communities and across the creeks of the Niger Delta region where they suspect that the killers might be hiding.

The troops are also in search of weapons which they believe are stockpiled in many homes within the general area.

One Intelligence source who spoke to Zagazola Makama, said the communities where the troops have conducted searches were full of weapons and the directive handed over to the troops was to mop up the arms and ammunition and disarm the communities.

According to him, the troops will not relent until that particular order has been carried out to the letter. He said the domination of the general area is in progress while the search for weapons belonging to the slain military personnel and culprits in the dastardly act continues. “All these communities have what they call, ‘community weapons’ ‘ which they use to cause havoc here”, he said.

Recall that on the 14th day of March, Lt. Colonel A. H. Ali, the Commanding Officer of 181 Amphibious Battalion, led three other officers and 13 soldiers to the Okuama Community to mediate in the lingering dispute with Okoloba Community, and were killed by members of the Okuama community.

They went as peacemakers and peacekeepers, respectfully seeking to bring an end to the hostilities between the two communities. They did not go with tanks, machine guns, and other weapons. They were on a mission for peace.

*Zagazola Makama, is a Counter Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst in the Lake Chad region

17 SOLDIERS: CHILLING DISCOVERIES AT OKUAMA

News

Troops neutralise bandit, recover arms in Plateau raid

Published

11 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Troops neutralise bandit, recover arms in Plateau raid

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, under the Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace (JTF OPEP), have neutralised a notorious bandit and recovered arms and ammunition during a raid on a hideout in Plateau State.

Sources told Zagazola Makama that the operation was conducted on Jan. 8 at Yolan Gboka–Yama Da Lahdi, following sustained efforts to track and arrest perpetrators of the Dec. 16, 2025 attack on illegal miners at Tosho community in Fann District, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.

According to the sources, troops made contact with the bandits during the raid and engaged them in a firefight.

“One of the bandits was neutralised during the exchange of fire and was later identified as Sadiq Isah, while others fled the area,” the sources said.

The sources added that troops subsequently exploited the hideout and recovered two AK-47 rifles and 162 rounds of 7.62mm (special) ammunition.

The recovered arms and ammunition are currently in military custody, while troops have commenced follow-up operations to intercept the fleeing suspects and prevent further criminal activities in the area.

Zagazola reports that Operation Enduring Peace is a joint security initiative aimed at restoring peace and stability across Plateau and neighbouring states.

Troops neutralise bandit, recover arms in Plateau raid

News

FG Urges NSCDC to Boost Intelligence as Interior Minister Decorates 113 Senior Officers

Published

11 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

FG Urges NSCDC to Boost Intelligence as Interior Minister Decorates 113 Senior Officers

By: Michael Mike

The Federal Government has called on the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to strengthen intelligence gathering and operational readiness in the face of rising security threats across the country.

The call was made by the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, during a ceremony to decorate 113 newly promoted NSCDC commandants. The minister, represented by the Secretary of the Civil Defence, Corrections, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), Maj. Gen. Abdulmalik Jibrin (Rtd), commended the Corps for its role in protecting critical national infrastructure, lives, and property.

Tunji-Ojo emphasized the need for strategic intelligence mapping to counter emerging threats, particularly as the Corps now shoulders additional responsibilities for the protection of Very Important Personalities (VIPs), a role previously managed by the Nigeria Police Force.

He encouraged the newly promoted officers and all personnel to uphold the confidence placed in the service by President Bola Tinubu, noting that the merit-based promotions are designed to boost morale and enhance performance.

The Commandant General of NSCDC, Professor Ahmed Audi, urged the officers to mentor subordinates, embrace leadership responsibilities, and adhere strictly to merit-based postings. He warned against lobbying for preferred postings, affirming that performance and dedication would guide all administrative decisions.

Representing the promoted officers, Commandant Ekanem Ekpenyong pledged unwavering commitment to duty, promising to uphold integrity and the Corps’ Oath of Allegiance.

In a key highlight of the ceremony, the Corps’ National Public Relations Officer, Afolabi Babawale was promoted to the rank of Assistant Commandant. The event also featured goodwill messages from the Controller General of Corrections, the Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, and representatives from the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, and the Department of State Services.

The ceremony underscored the Federal Government’s resolve to strengthen the NSCDC and reinforce its role in Nigeria’s security architecture.

FG Urges NSCDC to Boost Intelligence as Interior Minister Decorates 113 Senior Officers

News

Zulum commissions remodelled ‘2nd chance school’ for vulnerable girls

Published

1 day ago

January 8, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Zulum commissions remodelled ‘2nd chance school’ for vulnerable girls

.Disburses N1bn to SMEs in 5 LGAs

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, on Thursday commissioned a fully remodelled “Second Chance School” for vulnerable girls and women in Biu Local Government Area.

The newly inaugurated facility is part of a strategic initiative designed to offer adult women, including those who missed formal education or dropped out of school due to prevailing challenges, a pathway to self-reliance.

The school’s curriculum is tailored towards providing comprehensive skills’ acquisition, critical digital knowledge and basic literacy, and numeracy training.

With the Biu centre now operational, Zulum’s administration has established three such schools across the state, with existing centres already operational in Maiduguri and Bama.

Meanwhile, Governor Zulum has disbursed N1 billion to small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) across five local government areas in southern Borno.

The targeted LGAs include Biu, Hawul, Shani, Bayo and Kwaya-Kusar, with the funds intended to support entrepreneurs and enhance business sustainability.

Zulum explained that the direct injection of capital into the SME sector is essential for driving grassroots development and fostering self-reliance in the post-insurgency recovery phase.

In a related development aimed at tackling youth restiveness and promoting social stability, Governor Zulum has ordered immediate employment of 200 young individuals from the Biu Local Government Area.

After the inauguration, Zulum visited Biu Specialist Hospital where he announced the immediate and automatic employment of a number of dedicated volunteer health workers who have served tirelessly.

He also inspected the 100-unit teachers’ housing estate under construction in Biu town. The estate is part of the Borno State Government’s motivational strategy to attract and retain qualified teaching professionals in public schools.

Governor Zulum has also directed immediate commencement of rehabilitation work on the Borno State Hotel Annexe in Biu.

Zulum commissions remodelled ‘2nd chance school’ for vulnerable girls