The Nigerian Army has accused residents of Okuama community in Delta State of being complicit and engaging in media propaganda rather than supporting the military to fish out those who killed 16 Service personnel during a peace mission in the community.
A statement by the director, Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, on Momday, said 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, “was not only despicable but should be unreservedly condemned by all.”
The Chief of Army of Staff, Lt. Gen. Toareed Lagbaja, while commiserating with the families of the officers and soldiers who lost their lives, further directed that no stone should be left unturned until the perpetrators of the gruesome acts were 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,” the Army spokesman declared.
He said the troops were committed to peace and security of lives and property of citizens and non-citizens alike in the Niger Delta region before they were 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.”
He called on Nigerians to disregard the falsehood being peddled by the criminals and their cohorts to whip up sentiments and sway the public to cover-up, endorse or support the outrageous criminal acts of their armed youth gang.
“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,” he added.
The Nigerian Army while assuring law-abiding citizens that there will be no reprisal on the part of the troops, enjoined all to go about their normal activities, even as ongoing efforts were scaled up to positively identify and isolate the criminals to account for their atrocious deeds.
