The Nigerian military needs to exercise caution in handling the situation in Okuama community of Delta State to avoid an escalation or a humanitarian crisis.

Development Diaries reports that after the killing of at least 16 military personnel, the Okuama community in Ughelli South area of Delta State has been out of bounds, as only the military can go in and out of the area.

It is claimed that even the state governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, acknowledged the circumstances that prevented him from going to the location.

There are fears that a humanitarian crisis is imminent in different communities in the region as hundreds of women and children from Okuama community, Ewu Kingdom, have been stranded for six days without food in the forests.

Also, according to media reports, the blockade imposed by the military in the coastal town of Igbomotoru, Southern Ijaw of Bayelsa State, to hunt for a militant leader suspected of masterminding the killings is pushing the community into starvation.

Following President Bola Tinubu’s directive, the military searched warring communities in Delta State and portions of Bayelsa, arresting multiple people, including three main suspects.

There are various claims about how the army has killed innocent civilians in its attempt to apprehend the Okuama killers, some of whom were caught in the crossfire between the armed forces and militants attempting to escape capture. Many of these claims, meanwhile, have not been verified.

While the Nigerian army has said its troops will not leave the creeks in Delta State until the culprits are caught, they need to exercise caution in handling the investigations so the situation does not snowball into a bigger conflict in the region.

Development Diaries calls on Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, to ensure that the troops of the Nigerian army are willing to exercise caution and to cordially work with the communities in the area with respect to investigation.