The Senate has instructed its committees on Army, Defence, Air Force, and Navy to conduct an investigation into the massacre of 16 Nigerian Army men on March 14 in the Okuama Community of Delta.Sen. Abdulaziz Yar’adua (APC-Katsina) raised a point of order at Tuesday’s session, which was subsequently addressed.”The killing of Nigerian Army personnel in Okuama Community, Delta State, and the Necessity for an Urgent Investigation” was the title of the motion.
The senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Dafinone Edeh Omueya, expressed his disapproval of the troops’ killings and also lamented the loss of innocent lives during the military’s retaliatory strike on Okuamathe village.The brutal murder of innocent civilians has caused anxiety in the riverine villages of Delta State, leading to concerns about the necessity of treating the situation with caution to avoid additional disruptions of law and order.
He implored President Bola Tinubu and the Chief of Army Staff to exercise clemency in order to avoid punishing the blameless individuals in the impacted areas due to the transgressions of a small number of untrustworthy individuals.Several Senators who spoke on the matter strongly condemned the killing of troops, highlighting that these fatalities happened even in the absence of armed conflict.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio expressed his hope that the Senate would depend on the military’s continuing inquiry into the situation, as he thought it would be comprehensive.Sen. Ahmad Lawan expressed the opinion that the military needs assistance, not attacks.
He also stated that the incident in Delta was not a random occurrence but rather a carefully planned action aimed at causing harm to our soldiers.He urged both the Executive and the Legislature to prioritise the improvement of military welfare.
Sen. Seriake Dickson (PDP-Bayelsa) expressed his sorrow and condemnation for the crime, describing it as both tragic and diabolical. He emphasised the need for an inquiry to thoroughly investigate and establish all the facts surrounding the incident.
By Nnaemeka Odenigbo
