A rights group, the Rule Of Law And Accountability Advocacy Centre, RULAAC has called for an end to the military revenge and indiscriminate actions that have led to injury, death, and displacement of innocent civilians in Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State, and neighboring communities.
There have been varying reports and figures on the casualties in the communities, following the invasion of Okuama by military personnel after some armed youths of the community killed 16 soldiers and 3 officers of the troops of 181 Amphibious Battalion of the Nigerian Army.
The armed Okuama youths had reportedly ambushed the soldiers who were drafted to restore order between two warring communities- Okuama and Okoloba communities in Delta State.
According to the Executive Director of RULAAC, Mr Okechukwu Nwanguma, the RULAAC unreservedly condemns the unprovoked and dastardly attacks and killing of the army personnel.
He further expressed RULAAC’s condemnation of what he described as “the barbaric decapitation and disembowelment of the killed soldiers by the killers while commiserating
Nwanguma, who welcomed the resolve of the military authorities to investigate and bring the culprits to book, asked the Delta State government to go beyond condemnation of the tragedy and ensure a thorough investigation of the root causes of the communal dispute and clashes, that necessitated military intervention and unfortunately culminated in the ambush and deadly attacks and killing of the soldiers.
“All the perpetrators, and others directly or remotely linked to the crisis that resulted in the dastardly killing of the soldiers must be arrested, investigated, and if found culpable, tried in accordance with the law.
“They must be made to bear the full weight of the law if convicted,” he said.
The RULAAC boss appealed to the military to end reprisals on communities.
In his words; “A repeat of the sad events of the days of President Olusegun Obasanjo (1999-2007) when the military destroyed communities in Odi and Zaki Biam for killing soldiers must be avoided.
“We recall that after the military’s violent reprisal attack on the town of Odi in Bayelsa State in November 1999, the community took legal action against the Nigerian government.
“They sued the federal government for the destruction of their homes, properties, and the loss of their lives in the attack.
“In June 2013, the court awarded a monetary compensation of 37.6 billion naira (about $98 million USD) to the people of Odi for the damages done by the military during the attack.
“However, the government of Nigeria under President Olusegun Obasanjo refused to pay the compensation to the community and appealed the judgment.
“The case remained in legal limbo for years, with the government not paying the compensation despite several court orders.
“It is unclear if the people of Odi have received the monetary compensation awarded to them by the Federal High Court.”
Noting that innocent civilians and their properties must at all times be protected, the rights group insisted that the innocent must never be made to suffer for the atrocities of a few deviants in the community.
It maintained that military reprisals that result in the killing of civilians are not an acceptable practice under the rules of engagement.
“The rules of engagement are designed to ensure that military operations are conducted in a manner that upholds human rights principles and respects the lives and dignity of all individuals.
“Military reprisals are often regarded as an act of revenge, which brings into question the legality of the action.
“The use of force must always be proportional and limited to what is necessary to achieve a legitimate military objective. The indiscriminate use of force that results in the killing of civilians is a violation of international humanitarian law and human rights law.
“Therefore, it is important for the military to ensure that it does not descend to the level of criminals. It must ensure that its operations are conducted in compliance with the rules of engagement, which require that the use of force be proportional, necessary, and discriminatory.
“The military must uphold its duty to protect civilians, and not take part in acts of reprisal or any other form of violence against innocent civilians.
“The military must remain focused and committed to its mandate of maintaining peace and security in the community,” Nwanguma posited.
