LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Precisely 10 days ago, Nigerians awoke to the most horrendous news of the death of high-ranking military personnel not at the warfront or some strange foreign lands but at home-soil, at the backwater of Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.
No fewer than 17 military personnel were killed by irate youths during a communal clash over a land dispute in Bomadi and Okuoma communities in the state.
The personnel attached to the 181 Amphibious Battalion according to report, were said to have gone to the community while responding to a distress call when they were ambushed and killed.
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With many concerned persons and authorities already making statements, the wounds and deep scar left by the sad incidence would take some time to heal, especially given the animosities being expressed by the military authorities.
The Army, in a statement last Monday, by its Director, Army Public Relations, Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, lamented that rather than help to provide assistance to arrest the perpetrators of the crime, the community has been dishing out propaganda.
Nwachukwu added that resorting to propaganda showed that the killing of troops was a “communally orchestrated attack against legitimate forces.”
According to the statement, “The unfortunate killing of troops of 181 Amphibious Battalion of the Nigerian Army, while on a peaceful and mediatory mission, after a reported case of communal clash between Okuama and Okoloba Communities in Ughelli South and Bomadi LGAs of Delta State respectively is not only despicable but should be unreservedly condemned by all.
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“These were troops committed to peace and security of lives and property of citizens and non-citizens alike in the Niger Delta region, murdered in cold blood by an armed youth gang of Okuama community, in the most gruesome, heartless and cruel manner and went ahead to sacrilegiously debase their remains by ripping out their hearts by the very people they were there to protect.
“Regrettably, the community complicit in this dastardly act has resorted to media propaganda and shenanigans, rather than engage in a positive effort to fish out the perpetrators of this heinous crime. This again is a clear indication that the murder of the troops was a communally orchestrated attack against legitimate forces.”
He noted that no amount of falsehood would prevent those involved in the killing of the personnel from being brought to book.
Onyema, however, urged law-abiding citizens to go about their activities without fear, assuring them that there would be no reprisal attack in the community.
He said, “The falsehood being peddled by these criminals and their cohorts to whip up sentiments and sway the public to cover, endorse or support the outrageous criminal acts of their armed youth gang should be disregarded in its entirety.
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“It is only a ridiculous attempt at justifying their crime, rather than turn in themselves to security agencies. No amount of propaganda would arm-twist the narrative, they are complicit and must be ready to face the wrath of the law.
“While law-abiding citizens are assured that there will be no reprisal on the part of the troops, we enjoin all to go about their normal activities, even as ongoing efforts are scaled up to positively identify and isolate the criminals to account for their atrocious deeds.”
He added that the Chief of Army of Staff, Lt Gen Toareed Lagbaja, has directed that all culprits must be brought to book.
It is however instructive to note that in condemning the dastardly act, no efforts must be spared in getting to the root cause of this highly reprehensible act by non-state actors who not only took the laws into their hands but clearly went overboard just as members of the community must play a role in ensuring justice for the slain soldiers.
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The first thing the federal government should do is to ensure that justice is served in this matter with all the culprits made to face the long arm of the law.
The killing of anyone by willful act as shown in this instance should not longer be tolerated because it’ll surely send the wrong signals out there about the vulnerability of our armed forces and also undermines the country’s sovereignty as a whole if heinous crimes as grievous as this can be allowed.
This incident is particularly going to be a litmus test for the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration to make a statement about its capacity to dispense justice when it really matters most.