Senate probes killing of Military personnel in Delta State …rejects minute silence for civilian casualties

By Iyojo Ameh

The Nigerian Senate Tuesday mandated its committees on Army, Navy and Airforce, to liaise with the Military for thorough investigation on gruesome killings of some officers and men of Nigerian Army in Okuoma Community, Delta State on Thursday last week.

In honouring the memories of the four officers and 12 Soldiers killed, the Senate held a minute silence for them but rejected motion to do so for civilian casualties just as the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio declared that perpetrators of the heinous crime, were not from Niger Delta.

But the Senate in other far reaching resolutions taken on the dastardly act, urged the Federal Government to apprehend the killers and bring them to justice.

It also urged the Federal Government to hasten recruitment and training of more Police personnel towards relieving the Army from internal security matters.

Senate’s resolutions followed separate motions sponsored by Senators Abdulaziz Yar’Adua (APC Katsina Central) and Ede Dafinone (APC Delta Central) on killing of four officers and 12 Soldiers by ethnic militias in Okuoma village, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.

Senator Yar’Adua in his motion described the act as despicable, barbaric and unacceptable.

“The Officers comprising of a Lt-Colonel, two Majors, and a Captain along with 12 Soldiers, were not only killed by the local militias but had their bodies multilated.

“This heinous act of violence perpetrated by the attackers on our troops is a direct assault on the security and stability of the Niger Delta region.

“The Senate should condemn in its entirety, the dastardly act and adopt prayers proposed as resolutions”, he said.

But Senator Dafinone in his presentation, said since the motion centred on the same issue , he would only propose an additional prayer of a minute silence for innocent civilians killed.

His proposal was however rejected by the Senate President who said holding a minute silence for civilian casualties or victims of collateral damages, would come after thorough investigation had been carried on what led to what on the tragic and very embarrassing incident.

“Senators Dafinone and Ned Nwoko’s prayer for a minute silence for innocent civilian casualties, would be taken after the investigation of the dastardly act.

“What has happened is condemnable and stand condemned. The Senate will hold a minute silence for the 16 military personnel gruesomely murdered and condole with President Bola Tinubu, Military and family of the deceased for now.

“After investigation, civilians involved in the collateral damage, will be honoured by minute silence or whatever action that may be necessary.

“Those involved in the dastardly act, may not even be Niger Deltans, they nay be mercenaries even from outside the country”, he said.

Apparently buttressing the Senate President’s position , Senator Seriake Dickson (PDP Bayelsa West) in his contribution, said there is no need for moral equivalence at this time.

“What happened in Okuoma Community in Delta State last Thursday was very bad as regards the killing of the military personnel . An enquiry needs to be conducted by the Senate for us to have totality of facts on what happened before proceeding to moral equivalence in form of minute silence for innocent civilians “, he said.