By Kenneth Atavti
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has called on the Federal Government to put an end to the reprisal attacks by soldiers of the Nigerian Army in the Okuama community of Ughelli South Local Government Area in Delta State.
Falana made this call in a statement made available to Nigerian pilot on Sunday.
Nigerian Pilot recalled that some irate youths of the community reportedly ambushed soldiers who were drafted to the community to stop a communal clash in the area.
Fifteen bodies of the soldiers were recovered by soldiers of the Joint Task Force under the supervision of the General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, at the Okuama community.
Some youths from Okoloba were said to have ambushed and killed three Okuama youths – Igho Meshack, Godspower Awusa and Okiemute Agbabuleke, over an age-long land dispute in the area as they were returning from Okwagbe.
In a reprisal attack, some Okuama youths on Wednesday reportedly ambushed one Mr. Anthony Aboh, an indigene of Okoloba, and held him hostage.
But, operatives of the JTF swiftly swung into action and moved to Okuama to rescue the hostages.
Reacting to the development, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria urged the military to halt the killings of residents while calling for a full probe of the incident.
The senior advocate had, in a statement earlier released on Saturday night, condemned the brutal killing of the soldiers. He had also called for the immediate prosecution of the suspects who were arrested for their involvement in the crime.
Falana said, “Unfortunately, some villages were attacked last night by angry soldiers. After the attack, the villages were set on fire during the nocturnal military invasion.
“Having regard to the destruction of Odi and Zaki Biam over the killing of soldiers, the authorities ought to have taken adequate measures to prevent the attack and burning of the affected villages. It is unfortunate that the Federal Government has not issued any statement on the barbaric incident.
“In view of the tragic turn of events, I call on the military authorities to halt the destruction of the properties of innocent people in the warring communities. It ought to be pointed out that collective punishment is a serious offence under domestic and international law.”
Falana further stated, “Therefore, the Delta State Government should ensure that the murder suspects and arsonists among the civilians and soldiers are fished out and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to other criminal elements in the society.
