Delta Monarchs Pledge to Help In Tracking Killers Of Military Officers

Asaba: Delta State’s traditional leaders have promised to support law enforcement in their efforts to apprehend those responsible for the deaths of 17 Nigerian Army officers and soldiers in the Okuama community.

Rising from a meeting of the Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers DSCTR, in Asaba, the royal fathers condemned in the strongest terms, what they called “unprovoked and barbaric attack by the Okuama Community which led to the death of the officers.”

In a five-point communique issued at the end of the meeting, the Council Chairman and Orodje of Okpe, Major-General Felix Mujakpuero (rtd), Orhue 1, commiserated with the immediate families of the slain Officers, the Nigerian Army and the Federal Republic of Nigeria and prayed God to grant their souls eternal rest.

The Delta Monarchs called on the “Delta State Government to set up an independent investigative panel of inquiry to ascertain the immediate and remote cause or causes of the communal crisis between the Okuama and Okoloba Communities.

“As far as the Royal fathers are concerned we will cooperate and assist the military in fishing out the perpetrators of the heinous crime and we will ensure that they are exposed. We also appeal to the Nigerian Army to carry out their search for the perpetrators of the dastardly killing of the gallant officers in line with global best practices. In our own capacity, we will pledge to assist in finding the perpetrators of the heinous crime. We implore members of the public to stop peddling falsehood and unsubstantiated claims as such action can further exacerbate the already fragile peace in the state.”

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori had earlier briefed the monarchs on the security crisis between the Okoloba community in the Bomadi Local Government Area and the Okuama community in the Ughelli South Local Government Área of the state.

The meeting was attended by the immediate past chairman of the Council and Obi of Owa, Dr Emmanuel Efeizomor 11, the First vice Chairman and Pere of Akugbene mien, SP Luke Kalanama V111, and the 2nd Vice Chairmen and Obi of Ubulu – Unor, Agbogodi Henry Kikachukwu 1 among others.