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

Bego shares Buni’s achievements as journalists take a tour in Yobe

Published

3 hours ago

January 13, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Bego shares Buni’s achievements as journalists take a tour in Yobe

By: Yahaya Wakili

Yobe State in Northeastern Nigeria is one of the states that suffered from the Boko Haram insurgency, but with the support and effort of the security agencies, things are improving a lot.

However, one of the effects of the insurgency was to destroy the local community; the people have suffered, their lives and their livelihoods were destroyed, and many have lost their loved ones.

The State Commissioner of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Information, and Culture, Hon. Abdullahi Bego, disclosed this to a team of journalists who embarked on a media tour organized by the Yobe State government across the state. The tour started with the Kannama modern market, the headquarters of the Yunusari local government area.0

Bego further said that. His Excellency Governor Mai Mala Buni thought that there is a need to rebuild communities to reinvigorate economic activities to ensure that people can go back to their farms and their markets to ensure that they can rebuild their lives.

“Governor Buni is providing a lot of support in terms of agriculture inputs, equipment, and fertilizer, among others, adding that when people finish from their farms, they will come to their market. That is why Governor Buni decided to establish such markets so that we have control where people can transact business.” He said.

Also briefing the journalists, the commissioner of Housing and Rural Development, Architect Ahmed Buba, said since the coming of Governor Buni on board, he has constructed 9 markets and completed five ultramodern markets across the state; these include 4 modern markets that were also constructed in Yunusari, Ngalda, Machina, and Buni Yadi.

He said Yunusari, a befitting market, comprises 96 shops, 146 open stalls, and 46 stalls, where there are houses, meat shops, an administration block, a police station, a fire service station, and a banking hall, and it will boost cross-border regional trade.

The team of journalists also visited the Machina modern market, the Gashu’a-Masaba road, and the 30-kilometer Bulanguwa-Kummagana road, and the Director of Civil Engineering, Alhaji Garba Umar, said the 30-kilometer Bulanguwa-Kummagana road will be completed in the next 10 days, inshallah.

Alhaji Garba Umar revealed that a contractor has completed clearance of one hundred percent of the space and literate base, and now the execution of asphalt for about 20 kilometers is only remaining 10 kilometers.

Malam Madu Ibrahim Yunusari has commended Governor Mai Mala Buni for constructing them a befitting modern market; these, he said, will boost their businesses as well as cross-border regional trade markets with their neighboring countries.

Bego shares Buni’s achievements as journalists take a tour in Yobe

News

Police neutralise two bandits, recover arms in Kaduna

Published

3 hours ago

January 13, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Police neutralise two bandits, recover arms in Kaduna

By: Zagazola Makama

The Police Command in Kaduna State has neutralised two suspected armed bandits and recovered arms and ammunition during a security operation in Giwalga area of Bayan Kogi District.

Sources said the operation followed credible intelligence that a bandit syndicate, allegedly led by one Kachalla Sanusi Bajira, had mobilised its members to attack Idissu Village after the community failed to meet an imposed levy.

According to the sources, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, in collaboration with local vigilantes from Idissu Village, were deployed to the area to forestall the attack.

The police said that upon sighting the operatives, the bandits laid an ambush and engaged the security team in a gun duel.

However, the combined team reportedly overpowered the bandits with superior firepower, leading to the neutralisation of two suspects, while others fled into surrounding bushes.

Two AK-47 rifles and five rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the scene during the operation.

The police said the surrounding areas had been cordoned off, while concerted efforts were ongoing to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects.

Investigation into the incident has commenced, the command added, as it reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the fight against banditry and other criminal activities across the state,”said the sources.
End

News

Advocacy Group Demands Proof of NBMA Chief’s Eligibility

Published

9 hours ago

January 13, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Advocacy Group Demands Proof of NBMA Chief’s Eligibility

By: Michael Mike

A civil society organisation, Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER), has formally requested access to the academic and professional records of Bello Bwari, director-general of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), raising questions about his eligibility to occupy the position.

The request was submitted under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act to the Federal Ministry of Environment.

CASER said the move was prompted by concerns that the current head of the biosafety agency may not meet the qualifications required by law.

According to the group, the NBMA Act provides that the director-general of the agency must possess at least a master’s degree in biological sciences or a related field, while noting that Bwari is widely known to be a legal practitioner, a background the organisation argues may be inconsistent with the statutory requirements for the role.

In the FOI application, CASER called on the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, to confirm the director-general’s credentials and make the information available to the public. The organisation stressed that transparency in appointments is essential for maintaining confidence in regulatory institutions.

CASER further warned that failure to clarify the issue could weaken public trust in agencies responsible for biosafety, environmental protection, and biotechnology oversight.

The group added that the matter goes beyond one appointment and reflects broader concerns about compliance with enabling laws in public offices.

Founder of CASER and a human rights lawyer,!Frank Tietie, criticised what he described as the lack of response from professionals in the scientific community. In a recent opinion article, he argued that leadership of a biosafety agency without strong scientific grounding could undermine effective regulation.

Tietie said adherence to the law must be non-negotiable, warning that overlooking statutory provisions risks eroding accountability and institutional integrity.
End