The Senate has backed President Bola Tinubu’s resolve to arrest and prosecute those behind the murder of 15 Army personnel in Okuama Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta.
The military officers were killed by yet-to-be-identified residents of the riverine community in Delta while on military operations.
Tinubu in a statement on Sunday said; “The Defence Headquarters and Chief of Defence Staff have been granted full authority to bring to justice anybody found to have been responsible for this unconscionable crime against the Nigerian people.”
The Senate in a statement issued on Monday and signed by Chairman Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu, described the incident as “a perfidious height of a barbaric and heinous crime”.
The statement reads partly: “The Nigerian Senate has received with sadness the gruesome and unthinkable killings of 15 personnel of the Nigerian Army by armed groups during a peace mission to Okuama Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State on Thursday 14th March 2024.
“This is a perfidious height of a barbaric and heinous crime.
“The Nigeria Armed Forces need our maximum cooperation, prayers, and support at this trying period in our nation, as they conduct operations all over the country to restore peace and stability in troubled locations.
“We salute the courage of the departed military men as they have paid the supreme price performing the ultimate act of service to the nation.
“The Senate leadership and all Distinguished Senators of the 10th Senate condemn this attack and convey their deepest condolences to the Chief of Defense Staff, Chief of Army Staff, the Nigerian Army, officers and men of Operation Delta Safe as well as the families of all the personnel who have lost their lives.
“We consequently support The President, the Commander of the Nigerian Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s charge to the security authorities to smoke out the undesirable outlaws who put off the glowing lights of those promising officers and men.
“May their souls rest in immortal peace.“
