ASABA — Soldiers of the Nigerian Army yesterday continued the manhunt for the fleeing militant leader, (names withheld) and his gang members, suspected of having carried out the killing of 17 soldiers last Thursday at Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, combing creeks and hideouts across Delta and Bayelsa states.
The militant leader, whose mother hails from Bayelsa State, was reportedly taken to his mother’s ancestral home after she left his father in Delta State.
Soldiers tracked the fleeing militant leader to the riverside town of Igbomorotu in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, during the week, but left the community in pain, as residents had deserted the town after they razed some houses.
Reports said the military might likely extend the search for the fleeing militant leader and his men to Peremabiri, another community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.
More destruction in Okuama
In Delta State, the Army siege to the community continued. There was speculation that it might proceed to build a military barracks in the town.
However, there is still conflicting information on the militant leader’s origin as some said he is paternally from the Awawa community, while others said he is Akwagbe, very close to Okuama community.
Detectives have kept him under surveillance since the March 14 killings of the military personnel, seeking information to seize the suspect.
An informed source told Vanguard that his mother from Igbomotoru, took him back to her ancestral home after she parted ways with his father and remarried in her community where he grew up in the backwaters of Igbomotoru.
He is also said to be the founder of a peace group and volunteer force and is also involved in humanitarian work.
He was reported to have renovated the dilapidated home of the late Niger Delta freedom fighter, Isaac Boro, at Kaiama in Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, and gave N1 million to the Boro family to support his anniversary.
The suspect was described as an ardent disciple of Isaac Boro who always celebrated the late freedom fighter.
While some said he also played a role in stemming crude oil theft in the Bomo axis of the state, others claimed he was into bunkering, claims that could not be independently verified.
But behind the facade of philanthropic work, he is said to also serve as a thug to politicians in the last election in the state.
A resident of Igbomotoru, who pleaded anonymity, told Vanguard yesterday: “We have a burial this weekend, but we cannot go there because of the tense situation in the community. We do not know what to do now as the place is deserted because of military occupation.”
The siege by soldiers is causing panic in Igbomoturu, Peremabiri, and other areas, where some confederates of the wanted militant leader are said to be hiding.
Though it could not be immediately confirmed if the soldiers stormed Peremabiri, a source told one of our reporters that the soldiers were heading to Peremabiri.
“We heard Peremabiri was the next place to be raided, but they (soldiers) had to pause. There is tension in the area,” the source said.
The military is acting on intelligence from captured youths in Okuama that the suspect was allegedly behind the killing of security personnel.
The military, yesterday, continued its activities in Okuama community, sequel to the arrival of three swamp buggies transported on barges from Bomadi axis of River Forcados to the community on Tuesday.
According to our source, who spoke from a neighboring community, the machines have been put to work, and over half of the community has been cleared.
“It is certain that those machines brought to Okuama to ease the task of demolishing and evacuating houses and rubble have been put to work, and almost half the community has been cleared. I am not sure of what they intend to do next when they conclude the demolition exercise,” the source said.
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However, there is speculation that the military is planning to build barracks on Okuama community soil, which necessitated a concerted effort in the clearing and evacuation of rubble from the community.
Our source said: “The army will likely build their barracks on Okuama community soil, and that is why they are painstakingly using heavy machines to evacuate everything in the community.
“We heard that very soon, the Chief of Army Staff will come to Okuama to flag off the barracks project,” he said.
