In a recent address in Abuja, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has affirmed that the Nigerian Army has identified the individual responsible for the fatal attack on troops from the 181 Battalion in Okuama community, Delta State.
General Musa assured the public that apprehending the perpetrator is imminent.
“We know who did this, we are following up with him, and it’s just a matter of time, we are sure we are going to get him,” stated General Musa during his address.
The Chief of Defence Staff elaborated on the motives behind the attack, attributing it to the commanding officer’s efforts to curb illegal oil bunkering in the area.
He emphasized Lieutenant Colonel AH Ali’s commitment to halting illicit activities, which led to conflicts with those profiting from such operations.
“…he insisted that all illegal activities within the general area must stop. So, he directed all his troops and they were stopping all these illegal bunkering, stopping all these things, and then these are the people benefiting from it,” General Musa explained.
Regarding the tragic events that unfolded, General Musa shed light on the circumstances surrounding the clash, highlighting the presence of armed individuals engaged in illegal activities within the community.
“We know that because of these issues of bunkering, we have a lot of pirates, militants that are still operating in the area, and they have a lot of funding because of the area at which it’s been carried out,” he elaborated.
General Musa expressed profound dismay over the severity of the attack, condemning the brutal actions inflicted upon the soldiers who sought peaceful resolution.
“And I don’t know what kind of, for a human being to go to that extent to go for people that came on a peaceful means, then that’s something that must be looked at,” he lamented.
The Defence Chief’s remarks show the Army’s determination to bring the perpetrators to justice and address the underlying issues contributing to such tragic events.