A week after the tragic murder of military personnel in Delta State, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, has warned traditional rulers in the state against protecting suspects in the incident.
Seventeen military personnel – a lieutenant colonel, two majors, one captain, and 13 soldiers — were killed while on a “peacekeeping mission” in Okuama community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state last Thursday in a major blow to the country’s military.
As authorities in the country intensify work on the matter, Governor Oborevwori wants traditional rulers to cooperate in the investigations.
While addressing traditional rulers on the unfortunate incident at the State Traditional Rulers’ Council Secretariat in Asaba, Governor Oborevwori said Delta was governed within the tenets of the rule of law and human decency, stressing that no kingdom should shield the perpetrators of the dastardly act.
The governor said President Tinubu and the military authorities have assured him that innocent citizens in the state would not be victimised.
“We cannot tolerate that. It has never happened in this state; to kill one Lt. Colonel, two majors, one captain, and 13 soldiers. We need to fish out those involved,” he said.
“Do not hide or shield anybody. The Chief of Army Staff and Mr. President have assured me that innocent people will not be victimised; unless you connive with the killers of the soldiers.”
MEANWHILE the Nigerian Army says troops will not leave the creeks in Delta State until culprits in the killing of 17 military personnel are caught.
The General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army/Land Component Commander, Joint Task Force, South-South, Operation DELTA STATE, Major General Jamal Abdussalam assured leaders of the Niger Delta region that troops will be professional in ensuring those behind the incident are nabbed.
“The General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army/Land Component Commander, Joint Task Force, South South, Operation DELTA STATE, Major General Jamal Abdussalam has assured that troops conducting operations, over the gruesome murder of officers and soldiers at Okuama Community in Ughelli South LGA would be firm, strong, decisive and professional in the cause of the operations in the general area,” the Nigerian Army said in a Thursday statement.
“He made this known when the Managing Director (MD)/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief (Dr) Samuel Ogbuku paid him a condolence visit at the Division’s Headquarters in Port Harcourt Barracks today, 21 March 2024.
“Major General Abdussalam, while appreciating the MD and his team for the visit, said the mission handed to troops by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja is basically to recover the weapons carted away by the perpetrators of this heinous crime and ensure that all those involved are arrested. He further added that troops will continue to be in the creeks until these objectives are achieved.”
