National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has condemned the killing of the 17 army personnel who were gruesomely murdered last Thursday while responding to a distress call in the Okuama community of Ughelli South local government area of Delta State.
The students said the unjustified killing of the army personnel clearly portrayed an act of barbarism, which must not be allowed to go unpunished so as to serve as deterrent to other unscrupulous and unpatriotic elements in the Nigerian society.
In a statement issued in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, NANS national president, Comrade Pedro Obi, said the unfortunate incident was a clear demonstration of daring the will and capability of the Nigerian Armed Forces, in addition to testing “the response level of the president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces.”
LEADERSHIP recalled that the unfortunate incident occurred when the troops from the 181 Amphibious Battalion, Bomadi local government area of Delta State were responding to a distress call after the communal crisis between the Okuama and Okoloba communities both in Delta State.
Obi called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to roll out all necessary intelligent operatives towards ensuring that those who perpetrated the heinous crime against the state are adequately brought to book so as to avert any future occurrence.
“The incident is most unfortunate and condemnable. In fact, it portrays barbarism. We believe that no matter what the circumstances, members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria deserve equal respects for which no attack; not even in that coordinated manner should have happened,’’ he said.
Obi appealed to the army authorities to ensure that whatever military action that will be taking against the two erring communities of Okuama and Okoloba has a human face so as to avoid a repetition of the November 1999 military response that culminated in the total wreckage of Odi town in Akwa-Ibom State.
