The Nigerian Army has promised to bring to Justice the killers of their men as they warned the Okuama community in Delta state about being complicit in the crime.
In a statement released by the Director Army Public Relations, Major-General Onyema Nwachukwu on Monday evening, the community was warned to “be ready to face the full wrath of the law”.
The statement titled ‘RESORT TO PROPAGANDA BY OKUAMA COMMUNITY IN THE FACE OF GRUESOME MURDER OF TROOPS ON PEACE MISSION IS CALLOUS AND TOTALLY CONDEMNABLE’ has accused the community of whipping up sentiments to escape Justice for the criminals.
Recall the soldiers who were on “a peaceful and mediatory mission”, following a communal clash between Okuama and Okoloba communities, were killed.
The statement confirmed that the victims had been mutilated after death with their hearts cut out.
The army pledged to ensure Justice as it asked innocent civilians to go about their daily lives without fear.
The statement reads:
The unfortunate killing of troops of 181 Amphibious Battalion of the Nigerian Army (NA), 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.
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.
The falsehood being peddled by these criminals and their cohorts to whip up sentiments and sway the public to coverup, endorse or support the outrageous criminal acts of their armed youth gang should be disregarded in its entirety, it is only a ridiculous attempt at justifying their crime, rather than turn in themselves to security agencies. There is no amount of propaganda that 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.
The Chief of Army of Staff, Lt Gen Toareed Lagbaja, while commiserating with the families of the officers and soldiers who lost their lives, has directed that no stone should be left unturned until the perpetrators of this gruesome acts are apprehended to face the full wrath of the law. Troops are determined to get to these criminals, there is certainly no hiding place for them.
