The military has pulled out of the embattled Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State amidst chaos.
However, this was not before one person was reportedly dead with three others sustaining various degrees of machete wounds.
Recall that the killing of soldiers on peace and rescue operations at Okuama on March 14, 2024, prompted the military to burn down the community in retaliation.
According to sources in neighbouring Akugbene and Okoloba communities in Bomadi local government area, the soldiers pulled out of the embattled community on Tuesday suddenly without any prior information.
A former chairman of Akugbene, who pleaded anonymity, said: “We were surprised to see the soldiers pulled out yesterday (Tuesday) and some indigenes of Okuama immediately went back to the community.
“We believed some soldiers who are of Urhobo descent at Okuama must have passed prior information to them of their planned pull out. We have some respite now as we were like in a cage, not moving out to neighbouring communities in the Okuama direction where we go and buy most of our foodstuff and household materials, particularly at the Okuagbe market.
“But, as I’m talking to you, there is a problem; three indigenes of our community have already been ambushed and attacked with machetes by Okuama returnees. They were on their way to the Ezebiri community along the footpath linking various communities on hearing that the road was free.
“One of them who escaped back to our community with machete cuts narrated that they were attacked by the Okuama returnees while on their way to Ezebiri, who pointed guns at them. They attacked them with machetes when he managed to escape, while others were led towards the jetty at the community waterfront.
“The victim is in a critical condition with us right here at the primary healthcare centre”.
