Troops conducting a manhunt for the killers of 17 officers and soldiers in the creeks of the Niger Delta have recovered the decomposing hearts of some of the killed soldiers during the search.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, made the disclosure in a statement made available to journalists on Friday.
Recall that last Thursday, 17 officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army who were purportedly on a peace mission at Okuama over the land dispute between the community and Okoloba were gruesomely murdered by gunmen whose identities are still under wraps
Major General Buba, while highlighting updates on the operations of the troops against insurgency and terrorism, said that while the manhunt continued in over nine communities in Delta and Bayelsa for the killers, no significant arrests had been made so far.
Following a viral video of a young man claiming to be one of the killers of military personnel, Major General Buba urged the Delta State government and concerned communities to assist the troops in flushing them out.
“Troops have continued a manhunt for the perpetrators of the barbaric killing of 18 soldiers that occurred on March 14.
“Accordingly, clearance operations as well as cordon and search were conducted to, among other things, recover the weapons of the deceased soldiers.
“Some of the communities in which troops have operated include Akugbene, Ukuama, and Okoloba communities in Ugheli and Ugheli South of Delta State. Others are the Ukuama Amusamo, Akwagbe, Arhavwarien, Pirigbene, and Igbomatoro communities, all in Delta State.
“The decomposing hearts of some of the killed soldiers were recovered during the search, while the manhunt container had no significant arrests yet.
“Significantly, there is a viral video of a person admitting to having perpetrated the killings of the soldier in Delta State. The video, among other things, helps to narrow investigations to persons of interest and their cohorts.
