The action of the youths has triggered anger in military headquarters Abuja, with the Chief of Defence Staff , General Christopher Gwabin Musa, directing the immediate investigation of the incident and arrest of those involved in the heinous crime.
“The reinforcement team led by the Commanding Officer was also attacked, leading to the death of the Commanding Officer, two Majors, one Captain and 12 Soldiers. However, the vice president general of the Okuama community, David Akata, has accused the Nigerian Army of invasion of the community, saying that the “unknown gunmen” who turned out to be Nigerian Army personnel, shot sporadically at anyone in sight leaving three indigenes dead and several others injured.
“As I speak, the number of persons who died in the barbaric attack could not be ascertained as many of the aged men, women and youths fled into nearby bushes and we suspect that some women and children might have drowned in the river because many ran into the river out of panic. Meanwhile, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria has described as an act of terrorism, the killings of over a dozen of soldiers including many senior military officers by gunmen in Bomadi local council.
It noted that the aim of the killers of those soldiers was to expand the frontiers of the conflicts and to draw in the armed forces of Nigeria to become a party in the needless infighting among the gangsters. “We in HURIWA condemn in no uncertain terms, the dastardly criminal act and indeed one of the most gruesome acts of terrorism, the brutal slaughtering of so many Army officers by some armed hoodlums in a part of Delta State. This is so tragic and despicable to put it mildly and it is hoped that all those involved in this terror attack are arrested and decisively dealt with,” the group added.
According to the Special Guest, Commandant Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport, Major General Adekunle Adeyinka, the seminar was designed to enhance critical thinking capabilities of officers to enable them take quick decisions while applying appropriate principles in tackling operational challenges.
He stressed that defeating adversaries require enhanced social skills, which would enhance officers’ capacity to respond more appropriately to the rather complex scenarios that unfold in the theatres of operations.