Okuama killings: We have not been able to move into this community – Delta State Commissioner of Police

Delta State Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda, has stated that the police force has not been able to enter the Okuama community, where seventeen soldiers were ambushed and killed by assailants.

During an interview on Arise TV on Wednesday, March 20, Abaniwonda explained that although the police are responsible for internal security, they have been unable to access Okuama due to an ongoing military operation and the current volatile situation in the area.

‘’Okuama and Ikoloba communities have been having what I call a perennial land dispute over fishing rights. The unfortunate incident happened when military officers who had gone on a peacekeeping mission were ambushed and killed. Since that incident happened, it has become what I call a military operation zone. 

We have not been able to move into this community. Yes, it is our responsibility as the primary line of defence in internal security but when you have a sister agency conducting an operation, the reasonable thing to do is to wait for them to finish. We have not been able for now to get into Okuama because of the volatile nature of what is presently ongoing in that environment”