Twenty two military men on a rescue mission to the Okuama community in the Ughelli South local government area of Delta State have been confirmed dead.
They were reportedly ambushed by suspected militants in the community while on a rescue mission.
On Wednesday March 24, the Bomadi Division of the JTF, reportedly led by a Major, embarked on a rescue mission to the Okuama community to free a kidnapped youth, Mr. Anthony Aboh, an indigene of the neighboring Okoloba community in the Bomadi Local Government Area, who was abducted over the lingering land dispute between the two communities.
According to a survivor who is a civilian on the military team, the commander and his men were taken unaware while on their way back to the waterfront after a deadlocked round table discussion in the Okuama community hall over the kidnapped youth.
“We were coming back to our boats after the unfruitful discussion to release the kidnapped victim of the Okoloba community. Suddenly, there were rains of bullets coming from all directions, and some of us managed to escape. Many people were killed during the ambush, including the former honorable from the Okoloba community, who reported the matter to the JTF.
“But the commander and other officers were held hostage and taken to an unknown destination towards the creek opposite the community,” he said.
According to reports, the lifeless body of the kidnapped youth, Mr. Anthony Aboh, has been recovered floating on the River Forcados.
According to an Okoloba community source,
“We found the lifeless body of Mr. Anthony Aboh floating on the River Forcados near the Ayakoromor community, and like other victims, he was blindfolded with hands tied behind his back.”.
Confirming the incident, a senior officer at the Delta State Police Command said that the incident happened on March 13, and about 14 corpses of the military personnel were abducted and killed by suspected militants in the Okuama community. Among the dead were Major Gembu Shafa and JTF Commander Bomadi, among others.
