Okuama: How govt, security bodies failed to rein in militant leader – Investigation

VANGUARD

If government and security agencies had taken concerted action on the several petitions against an alleged militant leader and crude oil thief who banished a monarch from his kingdom in Bayelsa State, years ago, they would, probably, have averted the March 14 killing of 17 military personnel at Okuama in Delta State, Vanguard investigations have revealed.

Our inquiry on the recounted activities of the militant leader whom the Nigerian Army trailed to Igbomotoru in Southern-Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, barely 72 hours after the Okuama massacre, showed that government, both at federal and state levels, including the security agencies, failed to rein in the militant leader before March 14.

Perhaps, if the government had taken decisive steps, the militant leader would not have grown so powerful and audacious to wipe out a Lieutenant Colonel, two Majors, one Captain, and 13 soldiers in one fell swoop with his rag-tag gang.

After a supposed militant leader claimed in a viral video that he participated in the killing of the soldiers at Okuama, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major-General Edward Buba, said penultimate Friday, in Abuja: “The video, among other things, helps narrow investigations to persons of interest and their cohorts.

“Accordingly, the state governments and host communities of these personalities are required to assist the investigation in flushing them out.

“There can be no hiding place for perpetrators of such dastardly acts against our nation. This is a clarion call to duty by members of those communities and the state governments.’’

However, those familiar with the Igbomotoru warlord said he is not the same as the militant leader in the viral video.
Therefore, it is the word and proof of the Army, which is searching for him for the blood-letting crime, and had once declared him wanted.

However, yesterday, a militant group, Amagbein Force, suspected to have killed the 17 military personnel at Okuama, Delta State, on March 14, demanded that the federal government hand over waterways security to it.

The demand of the militant group corroborates the military’s preliminary finding that Amagbein was behind Okuama killing.
A group member in the trending video said he was speaking for his leader, nicknamed the River Lord.

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