Killing of 17 soldiers barbaric, Bayelsa gov laments

Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has condemned the Okuama attack, during which 17 soldiers were killed in the Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.

Diri, in a reaction to the incident, called for concerted efforts and support from the military and other security agencies to bring the killers of the 17 soldiers to justice.

The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah, conveyed Diri’s commitment to ensuring no effort is spared to bring the perpetrators to book in a statement on Wednesday.

He stated that Bayelsa State, being a host to the headquarters of the joint services Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), the Central Naval Command, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Mobility Command and the Nigerian Army 16 Brigade, was “understandably outraged at the heinous attack on the military personnel that are cherished members of the communities they are located and the state.”

He said the government would continue to support the military and other law enforcement institutions on their mission in the state.

Consequently, the governor directed all the security commanders in the state as well as the coordinator of the Bayelsa Community Safety Corps, Brig-General Eric Angaye (retd.), to scale up surveillance and patrol of the state’s borders and the waterways.

“The killing of our soldiers is barbaric, satanic and outrightly criminal, and anyone involved should be seen and treated as a criminal under our laws,” he said.

The governor, according to the statement, also urged people of the state, particularly residents of Igbomotoru community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, to remain calm as the government would ensure that law-abiding citizens are protected and safe at all times.