- Assures Protection Of Nigerians
THE Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, has ordered a thorough investigation into the deaths of two Okuama community leaders, Pa James Oghoroko and Dennis Okugbaye while in Army custody. Oghoroko, the President-General of Okuama community, who was 81-year-old, and Okugbaye, the community’s treasurer, reportedly died six days apart while being detained by the military.
The duo along with four others; Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo, Chief Belvis Adogbo, Mrs. Mabel Owhemu and Mr. Dennis Malaka were arrested during a military operation conducted between August 18 and 20, 2024.
The arrests followed the killing of 17 soldiers on March 14, 2024, during a peace mission aimed at resolving a dispute between Okuama and the neighbouring Okoloba community.
Speaking on the matter for the first time, the Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau said that the Chief of Defence Staff had directed the 6th Division of the Nigerian Army to investigate the allegations and submit a report, assuring that anybody found culpable would face sanctions in line with the law. Speaking during the Strategic Communications Interagency Policy Committee end-of-year briefing, Gusau said, “Regarding allegations of deaths in detention, headlines surfaced suggesting that individuals detained in connection with the Okuama incident had died, hence the probe by the CDS.
…We’re More Determined To Protect Nigeria, COAS Assures
Meanwhile the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. OlufemiOluyede, has urged officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army to ensure that their determination to protect Nigeria’s territorial integrity remains stronger than ever.
Oluyede said this at the opening of the 2024 COAS Annual Conference, yesterday, in Abuja.
Oluyede who gave assurance that the army would relentlessly pursue excellence in ensuring the safety and well-being of all Nigerians, said the conference was designed to assess the army’s activities for the outgoing year while consolidating plans for the forthcoming one.
According to him, their focus would be on developing innovative strategies to confront and ultimately defeat terrorism and other threats to the peace and security of the country.
“I am, however, determined to ensure that under my leadership, the Nigerian army remains steadfast and unwavering in its commitment to addressing the challenges facing our great nation.
“Our determination to protect Nigeria’s territorial integrity must be stronger than ever, and we will relentlessly pursue excellence in ensuring the safety and well-being of all Nigerians.
“My leadership concept aims to create an enabling environment that facilitates administrative and operational successes for the Nigerian army,” he said.
The COAS urged operational commanders to engage actively with their troops to ensure that they are motivated, prepared, and ready to tackle challenges head-on.
He also challenged them to embody decisive action and set good examples that inspire the force as well as lead with determination, resilience, empathy, and an unyielding commitment to the army’s mission objectives.
“We have increased the tempo of ongoing operations against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, and wanton killings across the 6 geopolitical zones of the country.
“The fight against terrorism and banditry under Operations HADIN ΚΑΙ and FASAN YAMMA has been intensified in the North East and North West theatres, respectively.
“In particular, Operation FANSAN YAMMA is making concerted efforts to speedily dismantle the Lakurawa terror group’s networks in the North West.
“These operations leverage enhanced intelligence gathering, rapid deployment of special forces, and synchronised air and ground offensives to establish control and neutralize threats in the region,” he added.
