Delta Killings: We Found The Decaying Hearts Of Slain Warriors — Army

The decaying hearts of some of the soldiers who were slain during the search have been found by troops on a quest for the individuals responsible for the deaths of 17 officers and soldiers in the Niger Delta's creeks.

Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, disclosed the information in a statement provided to media on Friday.

Remember that last Thursday, gunmen whose identities are still unknown brutally murdered seventeen Nigerian Army officers and soldiers who were ostensibly on a peace mission at Okuama over the land issue between the community and Okoloba.

Major General Buba noted: “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.

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

“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.

“Accordingly, the state governments and host communities of these personalities are required to assist instigation 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.”

Read Also: Army Refutes Claims Of Retaliation Following Attack In Delta community

He also listed other military achievements in the Niger Delta region, such as the destruction of illicit oil refineries, stopping the theft of crude oil, recovering various weaponry, apprehending criminal suspects, and rescuing victims of kidnapping.

He disclose: “Across theatres of operation in the country,. During the week, troops neutralised 106 terrorists and made 103 arrests. Troops also arrested 22 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 96 kidnapped hostages.

“In the SS, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of Seven Hundred and Fifty- Four Million One Hundred and Forty-Nine Thousand and Six Hundred Naira (N754,149,600.00) only.

“Furthermore, troops recovered 171 assorted weapons and 2,452 assorted ammunition. The breakdown is as follows: 47 AK47 rifles, one PKT gun, 18 pump action rifles, 17 locally fabricated guns, 14 Dane guns, 12 locally fabricated pistols, one fabricated revolver, one hand grenade, 81mm mortar bomb, one mortar tube and 4 bandoliers.

“Others are 995 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 468 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 317 live cartridges, 125 rounds of 9mm ammo, 313 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 13 rounds of 7.62 x 51mm, 19 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm, 167 empty shells of 7.62mm special ammo, 45 empty shells of 7.62mm NATO, 72 empty cases of cartridges, 14 magazines, 10 vehicles, 23 motorcycles, 19 mobile phones, one bicycle, 4 baofeng radios, and the sum of N112,920.00 amongst other items.

“Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 51 dugout pits, 17 boats, 15 storage tanks and 4 vehicles. Other items recovered include 21 cooking ovens, 3 pumping machines and 40 illegal refining sites. Troops recovered 772,350 litres of stolen crude oil, 80,530 litres of illegally refined AGO and 1,500 litres of DPK.”

The situation of people at Okuama, the scene of the killings and the troop invasion, is unknown as of the time the article was filed because media are not allowed to enter the region.