Probe killing of soldiers in Delta, Reps tell armed forces

The House of Representatives has urged military authorities to investigate the murder of 17 personnel in the Okuoma community, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State.

Seventeen soldiers deployed to the Delta community on a peace mission met their untimely death last Thursday in an ambush.

Moving a matter of urgent importance titled “Need to investigate and apprehend perpetrators of the gruesome killing of 17 military personnel in Delta State” on the floor of the House on Tuesday, member representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Babajimi Benson, described the incident as mindless and unfortunate.

He recalled that the fallen heroes “were only responding to a distress call in their service to their fatherland when they were ambushed and killed on Thursday.”

He said, “The perpetrators of this heinous act did not only stop at killing these military personnel but also went ahead to sacrilegiously debase their remains by ripping out their hearts and other body parts.”

The House noted that unless the killings are checked, they have the potential of demoralising the military and affecting the war on insecurity, “which has so far recorded some successes.”

Following the adoption of the motion, the House observed a minute silence in honour of the dead and mandated the Armed Forces of Nigeria “To conduct a thorough and wholesome investigation into the circumstances that led to this heartless, gruesome and despicable act and work with the relevant authorities to bring all perpetrators and their collaborators to book.”

It also mandated the Committee on Defence to interface with the Armed Forces of Nigeria to ensure compliance and report to the House within four weeks.

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