Killed soldiers to get national honour, befitting burial
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday promised that the 17 military men who lost their lives while on a peace mission in Okuama, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, would get a befitting burial and national honours.
Tinubu spoke during a special Ramadan Iftar (Muslim breaking of fast) with Vice-President Kashim Shettima and House of Representatives leadership, including Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.
He again expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and pledged that the sacrifices of the fallen heroes will never be in vain.
The President said: ‘’In responding to distress calls they met the end of their lives in a savage manner. Let us work to sympathise and symbolise the fact that they are worth the sacrifices they have made for Nigeria.
‘’We salute all our men and women in uniform, and we sympathise with them. I will soon make further pronouncements but they must have a befitting burial and national honours.’’ The Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) also condemned the gruesome killing of the soldiers and commiserated with the Nigerian government.
It called on the authorities “to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the gruesome murder of the soldiers and apprehend the perpetrators with the view to bringing them to justice.
“The Commission urges the communities to eschew all forms of violence and employ pacific means to resolve their differences and maintain communal harmony in the overall interest of all”.
Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and policemen have not gained access into Okuama Ughelli South Local Government Area because of an ongoing military operation in the troubled community, the state Police Commissioner Abaniwonda Olufemi said.
“Since that incident (killing of officers and men of the Nigerian Army in Okuoma) happened, it has become what I call a military operation zone. We have not been able to move into that community,” Olufemi told a national television station yesterday.
Four officers and 13 soldiers were ambushed and killed a week ago by youths suspected to be indigenes of the Ijaw community.
The soldiers were said to have gone to Okuama to settle a land dispute between the community and its neighbour, Okoloba.
Olufemi added that “few individuals who have been brought in” were being quizzed over the killings.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who on Sunday expressed deep concern over the killings had directed the Chief of Army Staff to immediately arrest the perpetrators. Nation
