By President Bola Tinubu has directed the Nigerian army to bring the perpetrators of the tragic killing of 16 soldiers during a peacekeeping mission in Nigeria’s southern Delta state to justice.
The soldiers were deployed to control clashes between the Okuama and Okoloba communities, stemming from disputes over land and fishing rights in the oil-rich region. However, they were ambushed by youth from one of the communities, as confirmed by the army.
President Tinubu condemned the attack, labelling it as a direct assault on the nation. He vowed that those responsible would face consequences for their actions.
“The cowardly offenders responsible for this heinous crime will not go unpunished,” declared President Tinubu.
Granting full authority to the Defense Headquarters and Chief of Defense Staff, Tinubu urged decisive action to ensure justice for the fallen soldiers and civilian victims.
An ongoing investigation has resulted in several arrests related to the incident, including individuals involved in the killing of a commanding officer, two majors, one captain, and a dozen soldiers.
Additionally, reports surfaced of sections of the affected community being set ablaze by unidentified groups, leading villagers to flee due to concerns about potential reprisal attacks from the military.
Army spokesperson Brig Gen Tukur Gusau confirmed that the retrieval of arms and weapons taken from the slain soldiers is a top priority, although he was unaware of the latest incident.
