Danger lurks in every part of Nigeria and to serve the country is to die. For Nigerian soldiers, this death from service is mostly literal. For political office holders, death is often of conscience, with corruption serving as the chief culprit.
In November 1999, and October 2001, Olusegun Obasanjo, a former military President who became president on the country’s return to democracy, unleashed the military on Odi, Bayelsa State, and Zaki Biam in Benue State. The atrocities committed in the two communities by Nigerian soldiers have defined the perception many have of the military as an institution that does not loath the use of disproportionate force.
But in life, there are those rare occasions when might is right and force is fair. One such occasions has brewed in Okuama Community of Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State. On 14 March 2024, four officers and 12 soldiers were killed from the 181 Amphibious Battalion when they responded to a distress call between two warring communities of Okuama and Okoloba. The soldiers who were said to have been ambushed apparently had no chance against callous criminals who no doubt knew every crevice in every creek in the area.
The death of the soldiers also reopened old wounds in the country. In April 2021, eleven soldiers were similarly killed during a peace keeping mission to Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State.
Attacking a people, though grievous, may be forgiven. But to attack their defenders is grave and unforgivable.
For the communities whose youth were involved, the calculation should be simple: give up the killers. The killers must be fished out. In a country about to be overrun by criminals, to so callously cut down some of those making a courageous last stand in the name of the country cannot and must not be forgiven. History and memory will not forgive Nigeria if it refuses to do nothing.
Again, it must be asked, since when have Nigeria’s young people, who are the fabled future of the country, become cold-blooded killers of their brothers and sisters who have chosen to defend them? Since when have Nigeria’s young, bloodied and battered by the difficulties in the country, become killers? There can be no excuse for such a crime.
The Bomadi area which has now been smeared by violence sits immovably in the heart of the Niger Delta. These killings would have the unfortunate effect of reinforcing the violence in the region.
At a time when criminals have mocked Nigeria by decapitating and dismembering its soldiers in the line of duty, no force would be disproportionate in fishing out the killers.
But this force must not be reserved for Delta State alone. After a lull in their activities, presumably to test the will of the new government, kidnappers have resumed their ruinous routines in Kaduna State. In the last week alone, close to 400 persons have been kidnapped in different locations in the state. Beyond the lure of lucre, the kidnappers must have the Chief of Defence Staff in their sights. The elaborately staged and chillingly audacious kidnappings appear carefully orchestrated to humiliate him in his home state.
It Is extremely worrisome that pockets of insecurity are breaking all over the country and ruining people’s desperate hopes that they were finally safe.
The criminals in Delta State who dared to murder and mutilate Nigeria’s intrepid defenders and responders have called for a response. Unless the country responds, it may soon find itself in a situation where it will call for help and no one will answer. The criminals must be brought to book.
Ike Willie-Nwobu,
