Reps Condemn Deaths Of Military Personnel In Delta Community, Call For Investigation

The House of Representatives has condemned the deaths of some military personnel in Okuama community in Delta State

The House also called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to the “heartless, gruesome, and despicable murder of military personnel” in Delta State to ensure that the perpetrators and their collaborators are brought to book.

In its resolution following a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by Hon. Babajimi Benson, the House condemned in strong terms the killing of the soldiers who were reportedly on a peace mission to the Okuama community when they were allegedly ambushed by armed youths.

Moving the motion, Benson who heads the House Committee on Defence listed the murdered military personnel of Lt. Col. A.H. Ali who was the Commanding Officer of 181 Amphibious Battalion of the Nigerian Army, Major S.D Shafa, Major D.E Obi, Captain U. Zakari and thirteen other rank and file of the Nigerian military.

According to him, the fallen soldiers were on a peaceful and mediatory mission to quell the communal clash between Okuama and Okoloba Communities in Ughelli South and Bomadi LGAs of Delta State respectively when the horrific incident occurred.

He said these military personnel were only responding to a distress call in their service to their fatherland when they were allegedly ambushed and killed on Thursday.

According to him, “The perpetrators of this heinous act did not only stop at killing the military personnel but also went ahead to sacrilegiously debase their remains by ripping out their hearts and other body parts.”

He said unless checked and stopped, acts like this, by the very people the Army Personnel are meant to protect, has the potential of demoralising the military and affecting the insecurity war which has so far recorded some successes.

Contributing to the debate on the motion, Francis Waive (APC, Delta) who represents the Federal constituency where the killing took place said those responsible for the act should be fished out and brought to book.

Waive however pleaded with the military to observe international protocol and halt the burning of the community so that innocent persons who are already taking refuge in the bushes can return home.

He said: “My people are currently displaced, and there is nobody in the community presently. Many people in the community are currently taking refuge in the bush and it is my belief that the innocent ones should not be made to suffer.

“I believe that efforts should be intensified to fish out those responsible for this act.

“I also want to appeal to the people from both sides of the divide to give peace a chance.”