President Tinubu orders arrest, prosecution of killers of soldiers in Delta State
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has directed the army to arrest the murders of 16 soldiers who were killed while on a peace mission in the country’s south last week.
The slain troops were responding to the unrest between the Okuama and Okoloba villages in the oil-rich southern Delta state, when they were ambushed by some youth in the community, according to an army statement.
President Tinubu said, “The cowardly offenders responsible for this heinous crime will not go unpunished.”
He added that “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.”
Recall that Nigeria’s military announced on Saturday that it had commenced a probe into the incident and made several arrests in connection with the killing of a commanding officer, two majors, one captain, and 12 soldiers during the attack.
In reprisal attacks by the military, reports on Sunday said some parts of the troubled community were set on fire while the villagers fled for safety.
Army spokesperson Brigadier General Tukur Gusau denied the incident and vowed to retrieve the arms and weapons taken by the assailants.
Rival communities in the oil rich state have been at odds on multiple occasions in recent weeks over land ownership and fishing rights, leading to the killing of numerous people.
