Former President of the Senate and Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence, Senator Ahmad Lawan has condemned the killing of Nigerian troops in Okuoma community in Delta State saying that the incident was a threat to the Niger Delta region.
In a statement issued at the national Assembly on Tuesday on behalf of the Senate Committee on Defence, Lawan lamented that the killing of the officers and soldiers was an affront on the Nigeria military as well as the peace of the Niger Delta region at large.
He, however, called for an urgent truce in the interest of peace and development of the region.
The statement reads:
“The Senate Committee on Defence strongly condemned the killing of military personnel in Okuoma, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State on Thursday, March 14, 2023.
“The Committee mourns the death of a Commanding officer, two Majors, one Captain, twelve soldiers, and a civilian who were killed while the military was responding to a crisis between Okuoma and Okoloba communities.
“This heinous act of violence perpetrated by the attackers on our troops is a direct assault on the security and stability of the Niger Delta region. We are deeply saddened by the loss of lives and the destruction inflicted on the community.
“We call on the relevant authorities, including the Nigerian military and security agencies, to take urgent action to bring the perpetrators to justice and restore peace and order to the area. We urge them to conduct a thorough investigation, apprehend the attackers, and prosecute them to the full extent of the law.
“We also urge the people of Okuoma to provide useful information that will lead to the arrest of the culprits who are out to destabilize the peace, security and stability of the region.
“Furthermore, we demand that the federal government provide adequate support to the families of those killed.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. We stand in solidarity with the people of Okuoma and call for an end to the violence and impunity that has plagued their community.”
