• Rules out further attacks in the area
Distraught Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, was at the Presidential Villa, yesterday, where he briefed President Bola Tinubu on the events in the aftermath of Thursday’s murder of 16 soldiers in the Okuoma community of the state.
“What is happening now is something that we did not bargain for, but we want to assure everybody that there’ll be no more attacks on the villages, if there’s been anyone that had happened in the past. We know that those who are culpable will be brought to book, but the innocent citizens will not be attacked,” Oborevwori declared after he met with President Tinubu in the State House, Abuja.
Recall that the President had expressed displeasure over the killing of army officers and soldiers, who were on a peace mission in a Delta State community, describing it as a direct affront to the nation.
The President, thereafter, in a statement he personally signed, directed the military, who had expressed indignation following the incident, to immediately arrest the perpetrators with a view to bringing them to book.
Tinubu said: “Members of our armed forces are at the heart and the core of our nationhood. Any attack on them is a direct attack on our nation. We will not accept this wicked act.”
Specifically, a lieutenant colonel, two majors, and one captain, along with 12 soldiers and a civilian, were ambushed and killed last Thursday in Okuoma, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.
The operatives were said to have gone to the Ijaw community to free one Anthony Aboh, an indigene of neighbouring Okoloba, who was allegedly abducted on Wednesday over a land dispute between the two communities.
The killings were also condemned by many, including Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Northern Governors’ Forum, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU), Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI) and Clement Ikolo, the traditional ruler of the Ewu Kingdom, where Okuoma is located.
But, speaking to newsmen after he met behind closed doors with the President, the governor said the situation was under control, saying that there would be no more further attacks in the area.
The governor was, however, not forthcoming on reports of reprisal allegedly carried out by the military and the number of casualties, saying that being a security issue, there are certain things he could not say in public.
“Mr President assured me that he is in support of peace and we both condemned the killing of the officers and the soldiers, who were on a peace mission,” he said.
