The Nigerian Army has launched a manhunt for eight individuals suspected to be involved in the killing of 17 soldiers in the Okuama community of Delta State.
Announced via its official channels, the wanted list includes seven men and one woman: Akevwru Daniel Omotegbono, Prof Ekpekpo Arthur, Andaowei Dennis Bakriki, Igoli Ebi, Akata Malawa David, Sinclear Oliki, Clement Ikolo Oghenerukevwe, and Reuben Baru.
The alleged mastermind, a militant leader, along with his accomplices, has evaded capture, with their base believed to be in Igbomotoru, a riverside community in Bayelsa State.
The Army’s pursuit extends to Port-Harcourt, where three individuals were apprehended last Tuesday in connection to the incident.
The search for the perpetrators has expanded across Delta, Bayelsa, and Rivers states, with indications of potential widening to other Niger-Delta regions and beyond.
While initial motives were speculated to stem from a land dispute, insiders suggest conflicting interests in oil bunkering may have played a role.
The slain soldiers, led by Lt. Col Ali, were actively combating oil theft in the area, raising suspicions of a premeditated attack. General Christopher Gwabin Musa, Chief of the Defense Staff, has directed intensified efforts to apprehend the culprits, acknowledging the complexities surrounding the case.
Musa said: “I know him, the C.O himself, Lt. Col. Ali. Because of recent, we emphasised that we want oil production in Nigeria to increase so that we will be able to have enough foreign exchange for things to go down. Because we all know the challenges we are facing.
“And so, he insisted that all illegal activities within his general area must stop. He directed all the troops and they were stopping illegal bunkering, and then these are the people benefiting from it. And so when this issue came up, it became an opportunity for them to do away with him, which is exactly what happened.
“We know who did it, we are following up on him, and it is just a matter of time, we are sure we are going to get him. They took away our arms, we must get those arms back, and we must get these guys so that they would be prosecuted accordingly.”
