The Military Board of Inquiry, set up by the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) to investigate the killing of 17 soldiers in Okuama community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, has begun its proceedings. The board met at the Governor's Office Annexe in Warri South Local Government Area, with stakeholders from the Okoloba community, Bomadi Local Government Area, in attendance, while the Okuama community was not represented.
The meeting, initially slated for 2pm, commenced around 3.45pm. The Director-General, Political and Security Services in Delta, Mr. David Tonwe, escorted the Okoloba stakeholders to the meeting, stating that they were not allowed to participate in the meeting. The soldiers were ambushed and killed on March 14 while responding to a crisis between Okoloba and Okuama communities over a longstanding land dispute.
Last Friday, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori hosted members of the military board at the Governor's Office Annexe, emphasizing the need for a transparent investigation. He assured the panel of the state government's support in providing relevant information, emphasizing that innocent citizens should not suffer further.
The Chairman of the board, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) David Ajayi, clarified that the panel's purpose was to gather facts and not assign blame. He stressed the importance of understanding the root causes of the crisis to improve civil-military relations and revive economic activities in the affected communities. AVM Ajayi requested the governor's assistance in ensuring that all relevant stakeholders are invited to provide their accounts.
The board is scheduled to visit Bayelsa State next as part of its fact-finding mission.
