The suspected ring leader of the gang that recently killed 17 soldiers in Okuama community, Ughelli South Local Council Area of Delta State, has come out to justify their action.

In a trending TikTok video, the young man, who did not bother to mask his face, dismissed reports that the killed soldiers were on a peace mission to the community.

He claimed that they were rather there to fight on behalf of the neighbouring Okoloba community in the lingering land dispute. While Okuama is Urhobo, Okoloba is Ijaw.

According, to the gang leader, who said that his father, a retired Nigerian Army Captain, died last year, said the soldiers earlier came and took away some people and allegedly killed them, only to come back to arrest Okuama community leaders.

Speaking in Pidgin English, he said in the video, which he repeatedly said would be his last: “Okuama and Okoloba get land issue. Small crisis come dey dey. Ijaw people wey Federal Government give power … dat man go use army carry people from Okoloba community. Now dey don dey come back to come carry community leaders. And once they carry community leaders, you know the youths are powerless.”

The gang leader said that in the circumstances, they had no regret in killing the soldiers.

The 17 victims, all of the 181 Amphibious Battalion, were murdered on March 14.

In a statement titled “Rest in Peace, our Fallen Heroes,” the Nigerian Army identified the victims as Commanding Officer, 181 Amphibious Battalion, Lt.-Col. A.H. Ali, Majors S.D. Shafa and D.E. Obi, and Captain U. Zakari. Soldiers affected include Staff Sergeant Yahaya Saidu, Corporals Yahaya Danbaba and Kabiru Bashir, Lance Corporals Bulus Haruna, Sola Opeyemi, Bello Anas, Hamman Peter and Ibrahim Abdullahi. Others were Privates Alhaji Isah, Clement Francis, Abubakar Ali, Ibrahim Adamu and Adamu Ibrahim.

The Nigerian Military has launched a manhunt for the suspects.