Yesterday, we broke the news of a suspected gang leader who in a trending TikTok video introduced a new twist to the murder, on March 14, 2024, of 17 soldiers in Okuama community, Ughelli South Local Council Area of Delta State.

In a statement titled “Rest in Peace, our Fallen Heroes,” the Nigerian Army identified the victims as Commanding Officer, 181 Amphibious Battalion, Lt.-Col. A.H. Ali, Majors S.D. Shafa and D.E. Obi, and Captain U. Zakari. Soldiers affected include Staff Sergeant Yahaya Saidu, Corporals Yahaya Danbaba and Kabiru Bashir, Lance Corporals Bulus Haruna, Sola Opeyemi, Bello Anas, Hamman Peter and Ibrahim Abdullahi. Others were Privates Alhaji Isah, Clement Francis, Abubakar Ali, Ibrahim Adamu and Adamu Ibrahim.

Below is the Pidgin English TikTok broadcast, unedited, of the suspect, who did not bother to mask his face in the viral video:

“This one na e be my last video wey I go do concerning this Okuama and Okoloba fight. Okuama and Okoloba dem get land issues. From land issues small crisis come de dey. Una wey be Ijaw people wey Federal Government give power to dey do bunkering, to dey burn diesel, dey use the same army dey escort their own go steal, dey betray their own blood.

“That man e go use him army carry people from Okuama community – three people wey dey carry dey slaughter them. Now dey don dey come back to come carry community leaders and una know very well say once the community leaders are captured the youths are powerless. The action take place una dey make comment say na peace keeping all dose army come. Point of correction: no army come for peace keeping; dem dey fight in favour of Tompolo because Tompolo ordered them to do so.

“Una dey say make I show my face. All this una comment wey una dey comment na just ordinary writing – na writing una just dey write. If I no fit talk true for this my land e no get where I go go wey I go talk true wey una go believe am. Na this video be the last video wey I go do. My papa na retired captain for dis Nigeria; he died last year; retired as a captain with the army and I don lose six of my friends and relatives for dis Nigeria.

“Remember, as an army dis Nigeria is not worth dying for as a country. I dey let you know so if una like make una carry dis matter here to the next level; if una like make Federal Government declare me wanted – I’m proud of it; yes, I’m proud of it. Una dey say ‘show your face’. If I show my face wetin you go do me? Wetin you go do me? So to talk true for dis country now na crime? No wonder why dey say truth is always bitter.

“Crisis dey between two community, una no fit call the elders, una no fit call the leaders to settle the issue amicably; you dey oppress one side for the other side, you dey call am peace keeping; na so dem dey keep peace? Okay, na una go school pass! Na una know the law pass!

“Na so oppression this country eh! If no be for one thing eh I for say eh make e be like that: north dey your north, south dey your south. All army if you dey serve this country serve with sense. If you be police police with sense; this Nigeria your country is not worth dying for. I dey tell una make una get sense.”

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