Temper Justice With Mercy, Delta Assembly Begs Military Over Okuama Killings

The Delta State House of Assembly sent a  passionate appeal to the Nigerian military to temper justice with mercy over the killings of 16 soldiers at Okuama Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state.

The appel followed a motion at Tuesday’s Plenary under Matters of Urgent Public Importance raised by the  member representing Ughelli South State Constituency, Hon. Festus Utuama.

Utuama in the motion at Tuesday’s Plenary presided over by the Speaker, Hon Emomotimi Guwor, sought the condemnation of the House on the unprovoked killing of 16 military officers and men of the Nigerian Army and one civilian whom he said, were on peace mission at the community.

While commiserating with the immediate families of the slain soldiers and the Nigerian Army, the lawmakers called on the Delta State Governor, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori as a matter of urgency, to prevail on relevant security agencies to investigate, arrest and prosecute those who carried out the dastardly act.

Also, the lawmakers enjoined the Governor to constitute a Commission of Enquiry to investigate and unravel the immediate and remote cause(s) of the crisis between the Okuama Community in Ughelli South and Okoloba Community in Bomadi Local Government Area.

“I appeal passionately to the Nigerian military to temper justice with mercy. The State Governor, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori should put in place measures aimed at protecting the elderly men, women, children and the vulnerable persons who have suffered untold hardship as well as loss of property since the crisis began barely a week ago,” Utuama pleaded.

Meanwhile, the Speaker has directed that the motion should be forwarded to the State Governor for immediate action just as he enjoined the House committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure full compliance with the resolution.

The motion was unanimously adopted by the House,  just as a minute silence was observed in honour of the slain soldiers.