By Emmanuel Obisue
In the wake of speculations of a possible reprisal attack on Okuama Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State over the gruesome killing of 16 soldiers, the Nigerian Army has assured that it has no intention of avenging the death of the troops.
In a statement issued on Monday by Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, urged residents of the community to discard the “propaganda”, adding that efforts should be channeled into bring the culprits to book.
“While law-abiding citizens are assured that there will be no reprisal on the part of the troops, we enjoin all to go about their normal activities, even as ongoing efforts are scaled up to positively identify and isolate the criminals to account for their atrocious deeds,” he said.
The Army said the killing of the troops was “despicable”, and should be “unreservedly condemned by all”.
“These were troops committed to peace and security of lives and property of citizens and non-citizens alike in the Niger Delta Region, murdered in cold blood by an armed youth gang of Okuama Community, in the most gruesome, heartless and cruel manner and went ahead to sacrilegiously debase their remains by ripping out their hearts by the very people they were there to protect.
“Regrettably, the community complicit in this dastardly act has resorted to media propaganda and shenanigans, rather than engage in a positive effort to fish out the perpetrators of this heinous crime. This again is a clear indication that the murder of the troops was a communally orchestrated attack against legitimate forces.
“The falsehood being peddled by these criminals and their cohorts to whip up sentiments and sway the public to cover up, endorse or support the outrageous criminal acts of their armed youth gang should be disregarded in its entirety, it is only a ridiculous attempt at justifying their crime, rather than turn in themselves to security agencies. There is no amount of propaganda that would arm-twist the narrative, they are complicit and must be ready to face the wrath of the law,” the statement added.
