The Nigerian Army has issued a stern warning to the Okuama community in Delta State, cautioning them to brace themselves for legal consequences.
This warning comes in response to the killing of soldiers who were engaged in a “peaceful and mediatory mission” following a communal clash between Okuama and Okoloba communities.
In a statement released by Major-General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, the Army criticized the community for resorting to propaganda instead of cooperating in identifying the perpetrators.
The statement highlighted the “despicable” nature of the soldiers’ murder, emphasizing that they were dedicated to maintaining peace and security in the Niger Delta Region. The Army condemned the armed youth gang of Okuama Community for gruesomely killing the troops and desecrating their remains.
Despite the community’s attempts to propagate falsehoods and divert attention from the incident, the Army affirmed that the murder was a coordinated attack against legitimate forces.
The Army dismissed the criminals’ propaganda as an attempt to justify their actions and urged them to surrender to security agencies. It emphasized that there would be no reprisal from the troops but reiterated their commitment to identifying and apprehending the perpetrators.
Furthermore, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Toareed Lagbaja, expressed condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers and directed exhaustive efforts to bring the culprits to justice. Troops are determined to apprehend the criminals, leaving no room for escape.