Tinubu, Atiku, Obi condemn killing of commanding officer, 2 majors, 1 captain, 12 soldiers in Delta
*Killers of military personnel won’t go unpunished, Tinubu vows
*Killing “unprovoked”, “dreadful” says President Tinubu
*Atiku, Obi, others demand arrest, prosecution of culprits
By Emmanuel Obisue with agency report
The killing and beheading of a Commanding Officer, two majors, one captain, 12 soldiers in Okuama community of Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State have continued to attract outrage from across the country.
It was reported that suspected youths of Okuama Community abducted and gruesomely murdered the soldiers, and that their dismembered bodies were seen floating around the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC Jetty on Friday, including that of the Commanding Officer of 181 Amphibious Battalion Oleh and that of the Bomadi JTF Commander.
Reacting to the killing on Sunday, President Bola Tinubu who condemned the killing of military personnel in Delta State, said the perpetrators, whom he described as “cowardly” must not go unpunished.
Military personnel including a Commanding Officer, two majors, one captain, and 12 soldiers plus a civilian were gruesomely murdered in the Okuama community of Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State last week during a rescue mission.
But reacting to the incident, Tinubu in a message he released pn Sunday evening, said the killing is “unprovoked” and “dreadful”.
“As the Commander-in-Chief, I join all well-meaning Nigerians and the men and women of our armed forces to mourn and express my profound grief over the needless death of our gallant soldiers,” Tinubu said.
“I extend my profound condolences to the families of these fallen soldiers, their colleagues, and their loved ones. The military high command is already responding to this incident. The cowardly offenders responsible for this heinous crime will not go unpunished.”
According to him, the killing is a further demonstration of the dangers servicemen and women face in their line of duty.
“I salute their heroism, courage, and uncommon grit and patriotism,” he said.
“As a nation, we must constantly remember and honour all those who have paid the ultimate price to keep our nation safe, strong, and united. The officers and men who died in the Okuama community have joined the pantheon of great men and women who gave their all, with honour, in the service of our fatherland.
“Members of our armed forces are at the heart and core of our nationhood. Any attack on them is a direct attack on our nation. We will not accept this wicked act”, he added.
Tinubu said the Defence Headquarters and Chief of Defence Staff have been “granted full authority to bring to justice anybody found to have been responsible for this unconscionable crime against the Nigerian people”.
“My government will not relent until we achieve peace and tranquility in every part of Nigeria,” he said
Meanwhile, as condemnations have continue to trail the killing of military personnel in Delta State with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party (LP)’s Peter Obi among the latest to call for the prosecution of those involved in the attacks.
As the incident continues to trigger an outpour of comments, Atiku said the attack is unjustified.
“The brutal killing of over a dozen Nigerian soldiers in Okuama in the Ughelli South Local Government Area and Okolaba in the Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State stands condemned. There can never be a justification for a premeditated killing of soldiers on a legitimate assignment,” he wrote on his X account Sunday evening.
The LP chieftain said the killings are in contrast to the need for security operatives who are “making a lot of sacrifices in their line of duty” to be appreciated.
“These security operatives are making a lot of sacrifices in their line of duty, and in some cases pay the supreme price. We must therefore appreciate and value them by showing empathy towards them and ensuring healthcare for those who are wounded,” the former Anambra State Governor said.
