The Nigerian Army has said that the killing of its personnel in Delta state was “communally orchestrated” by members of the Okuoma community.
Recall at least 15 soldiers were killed by irate youths during a communal clash over a land dispute in Bomadi and Okuoma communities in the state.
The personnel attached to the 181 Amphibious Battalion were responding to a distress call when they were ambushed and killed on Thursday.
The Army, in a statement on Monday, by its Director, Army Public Relations, Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, lamented that rather than help to provide assistance to arrest the perpetrators of the crime, the community has been resorting to propaganda.
Onyema said that resorting to propaganda showed that the killing of troops was a “communally orchestrated attack against legitimate forces.”
“These were troops committed to peace and security of lives and property of citizens and non-citizens alike in the Niger Delta Region, murdered in cold blood by an armed youth gang of Okuoma Community in the most gruesome, heartless, and cruel manner, and went ahead to sacrilegiously debase their remains by ripping out their hearts by the very people they were there to protect,” the statement reads.
“Regrettably, the community complicit in this dastardly act has resorted to media propaganda and shenanigans, rather than engage in a positive effort to fish out the perpetrators of this heinous crime.
“This is again a clear indication that the murder of the troops was a communally orchestrated attack against legitimate forces.
“The falsehood being peddled by these criminals and their cohorts to whip up sentiments and sway the public to cover up, endorse, or support the outrageous criminal acts of their armed youth gang.”
Onyema, however, urged law-abiding citizens to go about their activities without fear, assuring them that there would be no reprisal attack in the community.
He added that the Chief of Army of Staff, Lt Gen Toareed Lagbaja, has directed that all culprits must be brought to book.
Onyema said, “While commiserating with the families of the officers and soldiers who lost their lives, has directed that no stone should be left unturned until the perpetrators of this gruesome acts are apprehended to face the full wrath of the law. Troops are determined to get to these criminals. There is certainly no hiding place for them.”