Be professional in handling Delta bloodbath, Rep urges military

A member of the House of Representatives, representing Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency, Bayelsa State, Rodney Ambaiowei, has called on military authorities to be guided by professionalism in the handling of the killing of 17 soldiers in Okuama community, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State.

On Thursday last week, 17 soldiers deployed on a peace mission in Okuama were killed by irate youths, sparking widespread condemnation and calls for an investigation.

Addressing a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday, the lawmaker said only caution and professionalism would prevent grave damages and consequences.

According to him, the action of the killers spread over Igbomotoru in the Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency, where he said soldiers on a revenge mission had been on a revenge spree

He said, “Caution and professionalism must be the watchword to forestall unpleasant and regrettable consequences in the approach to bringing the culprits to book.

“It has become imperative and compelling to lend my voice in condemning an event which is uncalled for, the avoidable loss of lives of Nigerians on the side of the Nigerian military and the communities affected in Ughelli South and Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency.

“There is no gainsaying that the gruesome and unprovoked murder of 17 officers and men of the Nigerian Army consisting of a Lieutenant Colonel, two majors, a captain, and 12 other men of the military by criminals in Okuama community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, was one of the worse things to have happened to our gallant soldiers in recent history.

“Let me at this point condole with the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, the Nigerian Armed Forces, the families of these fallen heroes, and the good people of Nigeria.

“I am sadly compelled to address this conference following the callous and senseless murder of these officers who were said to be on their line of duty at Okuama, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State which event spilled into Igbomotoru, a hitherto peaceful community in my Federal Constituency, Southern Ijaw which is more than one hundred and fifty nautical kilometres from Okuama and in less than twenty-four hours, spilled into Igbomotoru, my Federal Constituency.

“This led to the invasion of the once serene community by men said to be of the military in search of the perpetrators of the heinous crime at Okuma. The aftermath of the invasion was the destruction and killing of some innocent and peace-loving citizens of the Igbomotoru community, which is rather unfortunate and saddening.”

Recalling a similar incident that occurred in the past, the lawmaker said, “I am aware that the Nigerian Army can gather intelligence within a short period. The execution of such intelligence reports should be done with utmost caution to minimise collateral damage to innocent and law-abiding citizens.

“I say this, bearing in mind the invasion and carnage that took place in Odi, in November 1999 following the killing of some soldiers and policemen which remains fresh in our memories.

“I want to align with the thinking and disposition of President Tinubu, the National Assembly and all the good people of Nigeria who crave for the swift arrest of those criminals who untimely cut short the lives of those officers and men of the Nigerian army who were merely on a peace mission to Okuama. Their dastardly act has created young widows and orphans whose future is now made bleak.”

He appealed to the people of Igbomotoru and the entire Southern-Ijaw Federal Constituency to be vigilant and report any strange movements in their various communities to the nearest law enforcement agents.

“I implore parents not to even spare taking drastic actions against their children and wards who are getting out of control. There is a biblical saying that if you spare the rod, you spoil the child,” he concluded.