Days after the nation woke up to the shocking news of the gruesome butchery of 17 officers and personnel of the Nigerian Army, who were on a peace mission to Okuama, an Urhobo community in Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State, on March 14.

Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa noted that despite that the attack was carried out with the intention to kill the army officers, the human rights of the community would not be infringed upon by men of the joint task force.

“People must understand that the military is established as the authority of the government to protect Nigeria and Nigerians. That is why we take it very seriously when criminals take laws into their hands and attack any member of the armed forces or any security agency. The Okuoma attack on the army was premeditated. Just because the cultists, criminals, and kidnappers make money from oil theft, now believe they are above the law. The attack was deliberately carried out. Just because the commanding officer and his team were ensuring that any act of pipeline vandalism, illegal refineries, and crude oil theft were completely eradicated from that region.

“The late colonel was a gallant officer. I had the privilege of working under him in the North East where he performed well. So, for someone like that to be killed like a chicken, beheaded, and dismembered is unacceptable. We are happy that the Commander-In -Chief of the armed forces has given us the mandate to arrest the perpetrators.

“A lot of comments have been made by people due to the lack of understanding. When there is a joint task force investigation, it means that every other armed force is involved. It is not like the army is taking laws into their hands. Once we are deployed on operation, we have the right and mandate to arrest all acts of criminality within that area.

“So, the army was legally deployed to Okuoma to carry out its legal operation. It was because the commanding officer felt that the treat was not so intense. That was why he went there physically to discuss with the community members. He did not go armed. If he had gone armed, he Would have erased everyone in that area. Unfortunately, when he approved the people with his team, they shot at the army. They did not only shoot the officers, they cut their body parts into pieces, they private parts were removed. I think that is what all Nigerians must condemn. I have respect for the community elders, and I like them to speak from the position of wisdom.

“They can not deny knowing the chaos that was happening in that region at that time. I want to report that since the bodies of the army officers were decapitated, there have been lots of sacrifices going on there. Those that committed the heinous crime are saying they have strength, which was why they boldly cut the heads, hearts, and sensitive organs of the army officers. Whatever their intention was to carry out such acts, we shall remain focused and undeterred in this investigation.

“Our operation is highly regulated. Ideally, the army would flatten the community after the gruesome murder, but we are knowledgeable to know that it’s not everyone in the community who was involved in the crime. We also know that a lot of community members and elders knew the attack on the army officers was going on and kept quiet, and that made them complicit to the crime.

“We are thoroughly conducting search operations to fish out the perpetrators. A traditional ruler has turned in himself to the police and I hope others will follow suit and report themselves before we get to them. The army is not barbaric to go around killing people. If they had not attached the armed forces, no army would have been there. We have established a civil relationship with other communities. We just want to clarify that we have the mandate to carry out investigations and interrogations as a team under the joint task force.”

Clearing the fears that suspects who willfully report themselves to the police would be tortured, the army chief emphasis that “there is nothing for the perpetrators to fear about in handing themselves over to the police. The other traditional ruler who was among the suspects reported himself, and he was handed over to the joint task force for interrogation, which also has a component of the police. They are the ones who have the mandate to operate. That was why he was handed over to the joint task force when reported to the police station. We want Nigerians to understand that we love Nigerians and we will not hurt any suspects who willfully report themselves to the police.

“We will not hurt innocent citizens, we are only after the actual perpetrators of the murders. The traditional ruler is safe in the hands of the joint task force. We would ensure that he is treated fairly. We only need clarify for the investigation, and actions will be taken afterwards. We are searching every nook and cranny of the community because we know that we know that some indigenes have money from crude oil theft and have bought a lot of ammunition. They also have ways they bring in ammunition into the country. It was because they had ammunition that they were able to perpetrate the crime. So we are thoroughly cleaning the community to ensure that there are no weapons left with any indigene.

“We are working together with the communities. The army does not intend to infringe on the rights of the people. The community indigenes know these criminals, and some of them benefit from these criminals. The aftermath of the investigation would be that the community would have lots of rebuilding to do.”(Daily Sun)