- Commanding Officer, 2 Majors, one Captain and 12 Soldiers Killed .
- Dafinone Calls for Calm
- Go After Only Those Who Murdered Your Men- Falana Tells Military
- Bring Their Killers To Justice- Adeyanju
Some youths ambushed and killed 16 officers and men of the 181 Amphibious Battalion of the Nigerian Army on peace mission to Okuoma community in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta on Thursday.
Those killed were the commanding officer, two Majors, one Captain and 12 soldiers.
Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, made this known on Saturday in Abuja.
He stated that the troops were ambushed and killed while responding to a distress call arising from a clash between Okuama and Okoloba communities in Delta.
Gusau stated that the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, had directed immediate investigation and arrest of those involved in the heinous crime.
He added that the incident had been reported to the Delta State Government.
“The military, however, remains focused and committed to its mandate of maintaining peace and security in the country.
“So far, a few arrests have been made while steps have been taken to unravel the motive behind the attack,’’ he assured.
Meanwhile,Senator Ede Dafinone (Delta Central) has called on those involved in the ongoing carnage at Okuama Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area to sheath their swords for the sake of humanity.
He also called on the State and Federal Government to urgently intervene to de-escalate the criss which according to available reports has allegedly claimed more than 18 lives including that of soldiers.
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Contrarily,human rights activist and Convener of Concerned Nigerians, Deji Adeyanju, has condemned the killing of the 16 soldiers killed while on a peace mission in Delta state.
Adeyanju also called on the security agents in the country to find the killers and hastily bring them to book
The lawyer also commiserated with the Nigerian army and the families of the deceased soldiers who died while serving their country.
In the same vein,human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has advised military authorities to prosecute only those involved in the killing of military officers in Delta State.
Falana, who commended the military for the arrest of some of the ring leaders of the attack, said the military must resist a repeat of the reprisal massacre of innocent civilians in Odi, Bayelsa State and Zaki Biam, Benue State when similar attacks occurred in the early 2000s.
“Having regard to the massacre of innocent people when the military invaded Odi in Bayelsa State and Zaki Biam in Benue State in similar circumstances, we commend the military authorities for resisting the temptation to subject the two warring communities to a reprisal attack. By all means, the army should avoid a repeat of the history of having multiple tragedies,” he said.
