The Nigerian Army says it will not retaliate against the Okuama community of Ughelli local government area of Delta state where 4 of its officers and 12 soldiers were killed in cold blood by armed youths.
This is as there are reports of the burning of houses in the community by suspected troops.
The chief of Army Staff, Taoreed Lagbaja in a statement by the Army Spokesman, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu
has commiserated.
with the families of the officers and soldiers who lost their lives, and has directed that the perpetrators of the gruesome acts should be apprehended to face the full wrath of the law.
The statement adds that the unfortunate killing of troops of 181 Amphibious Battalion, 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 is not only despicable but should be unreservedly condemned by all.
The Army says The troops were 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.
The statement adds that the community is complicit in this dastardly act and has resorted to media propaganda and shenanigans, rather than engage in a positive effort to fish out the perpetrators of this heinous crime. Noting that it is a clear indication that the murder of the troops was a communally orchestrated attack against legitimate forces.
The army says 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, as it is only a ridiculous attempt at justifying their crime, rather than turn in themselves to security agencies. And that 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, the army 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.
Troops are determined to get to these criminals, there is certainly no hiding place for them.
Editor Paul Akhagbemhe
