Okuama killings act of treason to intimidate Tinubu, group alleges

• Delta monarchs urge FG to allow residents to return
• Northern youths task N’Delta on peace
• COAS advises media to stop promoting terrorists’ activities

The Nigerian Peace and Development Advocates (NPDA), yesterday, described the killing of 17 soldiers in Delta State by gunmen as an act of treason, aimed at intimidating and embarrassing the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

The group made this allegation in a statement jointly signed by its National Coordinator, Chukwunonye Okereke, and Secretary, Forster Ugwuoke, which was made available to journalists in Enugu.

The statement reads: “The gruesome murder of men and officers of the Nigerian Army at Okuama Community in Delta State by sponsored militants is denigrating and the most unacceptable act of treason. In clear terms, this was an act against the Nigerian State.

“What is going on in the Niger Delta is the mindless criminality of oil bunkerers. The moussing owls have begun to hawk on our gallant officers to give way for their continued divestments of our collective patrimony in the Niger Delta. This is unacceptable.

IN the meantime, the Urhobo Council of Traditional Rulers, known as Ukoko r’ Ivie r’ Urhobo, yesterday, appealed to the Federal Government to allow the long-suffering innocent aged people and children of Okuama Community to return to their ancestral home.

The appeal came after the council met with representatives of Okuama’s neighbouring communities of Ewu, Okparabe and Arhavwarien, who said that they had not been able to sleep with their eyes closed since the killing of soldiers and civilians at Okuama.

The representatives of the three communities had led a save-our-soul visit to the palace of the monarch of the Uvwie kingdom, His Royal Highness (HRM) Emmanuel Ekemejewa Sideso Abe 1, who is the Chairman of the council. Three other monarchs from Agbarha-Otor, Oghara and Idjerhe Kingdoms attended the meeting.

ALSO, following the ongoing dispute in the Okoloba and Okuama communities in the Niger Delta region, a northern youth group, Northern Youth Progressive Network (NYPN), has tasked members of the community on fostering peace and security in the region.

While raising concern that the crisis was a great setback to the government’s determination to restore peace and order in the troubled flash points of the country, the group urged the Niger Delta youths to emulate efforts by some indigenous private security outfits, such as Tantita Security Services, in ensuring peace in the region.

IN another development, the Nigerian Army, yesterday, urged the media to refrain from inadvertently amplifying activities of terrorists, insurgents and other undesirable elements in the society to avoid instilling unnecessary fear and threats in the lives of law-abiding Nigerians.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, who advised the army’s quarterly Civil Media Chat, held in Asaba, Delta State, said that when the media strictly adheres to it, “we will effectively combat insecurity and restore peace in the country.”

Speaking on the Theme, ‘Imperatives of Military-Media Partnership for the Attainment of National Security,’ Lagbaja stressed the need for both the military and the media to collaborate and work for the security and safety of Nigeria.