Okuama 17: Federal Govt Urged To Set Up Panel of Inquiry

Former military administrator of Delta State, Air Commodore Luke Oculor (rtd) has called on the federal government to set up an investigative panel to curb the crisis in Okuama community.

Okuama community had come under media attention following the alleged killing of 16 military personnel.

Ochulor who described the killings as unimaginable and unfathomable, said such investigation panels should be extended to other warring communities to provide lasting solution to communal crisis.

He said, “Most of us who served in the military, we don’t speak when we go to bed, this type of incident is unimaginable, in other countries this type of incident can lead to a declaration of state of emergency because it’s unfathomable.

“What’s happening in Delta state is happening in Niger and all over the world, soldiers are sentinels of peace and a place where you see them being slaughtered, the question is what’s the difference between the situation and a state of emergency.

“But I won’t advise soldiers to retaliate because their job is to protect the nation, I would advise that there should be a thorough investigation, people shouldn’t be in a hurry, government shouldn’t be in a hurry to find who did what, I know that area where that thing happened, it’s a tough place, the water there is very deep,” Ochulor said.

On the general security situation of the country, he said, “I’m concerned as an individual, the way people are being abducted, I don’t think any country will sit and think things are normal, things are not normal, something drastic has to be done, there’s nothing government in this situation cannot do to remedy it, the modus operandi must change”, the retired military boss said.