The Defence Headquarters has vowed to bring the killers of 17 military personnel in Okuama, Delta State, to justice. These personnel were on an official mission when the tragic incident occurred.
This assurance was delivered by Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, during a press briefing held after a high-level meeting with military, police, and paramilitary officials on Tuesday in Abuja.
Speaking on his behalf, Major General Emeka Onumajuru, Chief of Defence Training and Operations, provided updates on the ongoing investigation and efforts to track down the perpetrators.
“Many are asking about the Okuama incident. I want to assure you that the killing of 17 Nigerian Armed Forces members will not go unanswered,” Onumajuru declared.
Drawing a comparison to the hunt for Osama Bin Laden, he acknowledged that while the pursuit may take time, those responsible will be brought to justice.
Onumajuru further revealed that Defence Headquarters is reevaluating its operations in the North West to improve coordination.
Plans are underway to merge multiple operations under a single commander to ensure a more streamlined and efficient military response.
He also appealed to local communities in the region to stop aiding terrorists by sharing information about military movements.
He referenced a recent case where residents posted footage online after a military vehicle became stuck in a swamp, tipping off terrorists.
“Please, do not support them. Do not provide them with information about troop movements—this is a major reason for the persistence of insecurity in some areas,” he urged.
