The Nigerian Army says soldiers killed in the Okuama community of the Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State are to be buried on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at the National Cemetery, Abuja.
This was disclosed in a statement posted on the Nigerian Army’s X handle on Tuesday, adding that the burial will be held by 3pm.
The slain military personnel responded to a distress call after a communal crisis between the Okuama and Okoloba communities, both in Delta State, before they were gruesomely murdered.
The beheaded corpses of the slain soldiers were later recovered from a neighbouring river, while the stomachs and hearts of others were ripped off.
The Defence Headquarters later released the list of 17 military personnel killed in the attack last Thursday during a peace mission to warring communities in the area.
The Defence Headquarters said 17 personnel including the Commanding Officer of 181 Amphibious Battalion, two majors, one captain, and 12 personnel of the battalion were killed.
The gruesome murder has continued to draw condemnation from authorities in Nigeria. President Bola Tinubu described it as an attack on the nation and gave marching orders to security agencies to fish out the masterminds of the attack.
The Senate, host Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, as well as civil society organisations have condemned the gruesome murder of the soldiers and called for the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators.
The President also said the slain military personnel will be conferred with national honours.
