Major General Cecil Esekhaigbe (retd.) has provided insight into the tragic incident where 16 military personnel were murdered in the Okuama community of Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State, last Thursday.
Esekhaigbe revealed that the soldiers were ambushed by residents of the community, leading to the fatal outcome.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief breakfast show on Monday, Esekhaigbe disclosed that the soldiers were in the coastal community to investigate why their colleagues, who were on a peacekeeping mission, were held hostage, not to engage in combat.
He emphasized that had the soldiers been prepared for an attack, the outcome might have been different.
The Defence Headquarters confirmed that the personnel, comprising two Majors, one Captain, and 12 soldiers from the 181 Amphibious Battalion, were on a peacekeeping mission in the Okuoma community when the incident occurred.
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Esekhaigbe condemned the killings and raised concerns about the presence of sophisticated weapons in local communities despite the amnesty program.
He highlighted the need for a re-examination of the entire process, emphasizing the importance of training and retraining for military personnel to navigate challenging environments effectively.
Regarding the insecurity in the state, Esekhaigbe cited factors such as the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, drug abuse, and governance failures.
He called for institutional reforms and a more proactive approach to addressing security challenges, including effective utilization of security votes by governors and enhanced efforts in retrieving illegal arms in circulation.
Esekhaigbe stressed the importance of the National Orientation Agency in reorienting the populace towards peaceful coexistence and urged for serious action from government authorities to tackle insecurity effectively.
