On Tuesday, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, made remarks suggesting that those responsible for the killing of soldiers in Delta State may not be local perpetrators but potentially foreigners. The incident occurred last Thursday, March 14, when a group of armed individuals attacked and fatally wounded 15 Nigerian Army personnel during a peacekeeping mission in the Okuama Community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.
During a debate on two merged motions by Senators Abdulaziz Yar’Adua of the APC representing Katsina Central, and Edeh Dafinone, also of the APC representing Delta Central, Akpabio shared his opinion that the assailants might be mercenaries rather than indigenous to the Niger Delta region. He emphasized, “We are not at war. I don’t think they are from the Niger Delta. They may be mercenaries.”
Consequently, the Senate ordered a comprehensive investigation into the killings. It directed its Committee on Defence, Army, Navy, and Air Force to collaborate with military authorities to ascertain both the immediate and underlying causes of what it described as “a dastardly act.” Additionally, the Senate called upon the Federal Government to swiftly apprehend the perpetrators and ensure they face justice. A moment of silence was observed in honor of the fallen soldiers.
Furthermore, the Senate advocated for the reinforcement of police presence to prevent the military from being excessively involved in civilian matters. However, a proposal to observe a minute of silence or extend condolences to the families of innocent civilians who were also casualties of the incident was rejected due to uncertainty regarding the exact number of civilian casualties.
While a request for relief materials for the affected community by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) was turned down, the Senate did resolve that immediate compensation should be provided to the families of the deceased soldiers. This resolution was moved by Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau, and seconded by Senator Tony Nwoye.
