The Nigerian Army has released the names and pictures of the 16 soldiers killed in a Delta state community.
Many residents of the Okuama have reportedly fled their homes over fear of reprisal attacks from the military.
The Okuama and Okoloba communities have been in dispute over the ownership of a controversial land lying on their border since January. The warfare between the two communities has led to the killing of many people including children.
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There have also been cases of abductions and injuries on both sides.
On Thursday, March 14, the communities had another fight that led to the death of three people. While many others sustained injuries, hundreds of residents were left homeless. In a bid to curb the menace, the Nigerian Army deployed soldiers for a peacekeeping mission to the communities.
Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters, late Saturday evening, said its military personnel were killed during the communal clash.
Though there are reports that some people are being arrested and molested, the military, while reacting to videos and pictures on social media about alleged reprisal, on Monday evening accused the Okuama community of media propaganda.
“Regrettably, the community complicit in this dastardly act has resorted to media propaganda and shenanigans, rather than engage in a positive effort to fish out the perpetrators of this heinous crime. This again is a clear indication that the murder of the troops was a communally orchestrated attack against legitimate forces.
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The falsehood being peddled by these criminals and their cohorts to whip up sentiments and sway the public to cover up, endorse or support the outrageous criminal acts of their armed youth gang should be disregarded in its entirety, it is only a ridiculous attempt at justifying their crime, rather than turn in themselves to security agencies.
There is no amount of propaganda that would arm-twist the narrative, they are complicit and must be ready to face the wrath of the law,” Onyema Nwachukwu, Army spokesperson, said.
The army assures law-abiding citizens that there will be no reprisal on the part of the troops.
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