Three more people are said to have sustained degrees of machete wounds when the military withdrew from the besieged Okuama community in the Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, leaving one person dead amidst the chaos.
The military destroyed the town in reprisal after reports revealed that soldiers had been killed while conducting peacekeeping and rescue missions in Okuama on March 14, 2024.
Sources in the nearby settlements of Akugbene and Okoloba in the Bomadi local government region claim that on Tuesday, the troops abruptly and without warning left the embattled community.
“We were surprised to see the soldiers pulled out yesterday (Tuesday), and some indigenes of Okuama immediately went back to the community,” claimed a former Akugbene chairman, who begged to remain anonymous.
“We thought that some Urhobo-descent soldiers at Okuama must have informed them beforehand of their intended withdrawal.” We were living in a cage, unable to leave the Okuama direction, where we traveled to get the majority of our food and household supplies, especially from the Okuagbe market. Fortunately, we are now experiencing some reprieve.
But, as I’m talking to you, there is a problem; three indigenes of our community have already been ambushed and attacked with machetes by Okuama returnees. They were on their way to the Ezebiri community along the footpath linking various communities on hearing that the road was free.
“The victims are with us here at the primary healthcare center in a critical condition.”
An indigenous person from a nearby community also confirmed the news, saying, “Yes, they left Okuama yesterday (Tuesday) between five and six o’clock. According to a soldier, they got an order from above to depart the village right away.
According to the reports of the returnees from Okuama and Akugbene, those young people went there to steal after learning that the army had left the area. They were ambushed and shot at by armed Okuama teenagers, and several of them are alleged to have suffered machete wounds.
One of the two victims who managed to flee back to the community is reportedly dead, according to a second Akugbene source who spoke with the press.
He stated, “As I speak with you, one of the two people who managed to flee the Okuama attack is already dead.”
In response, Mr. Clement Koki, the leader of the Okoloba community, stated that his group will keep up the peace and pray to God for protection.
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