SEEKS INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION ON PERPETRATORS
to set up an independent body to conduct a thorough investigation and uncover the perpetrators of OKUAMA KILLINGS in Delta state.
The groups made the call in a statement signed by Abiodun Baiyewu, the Executive Director, of Global Rights on behalf of the Community of Practice Against Mass Atrocities and, Nigeria Mourns.
While condemning the gruesome killing of the soldiers, they appealed that a day of national mourning be declared by Mr. President as a wake-up call against this heinous crime to enable these gallant officers to be buried with full military honors as well as ensure compensation for their families promptly.
And also called for the Setting up of a panel to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the communal clash that led to the attack on the officers.
Conduct a study on the proliferation of cult
gangs in South-South Nigeria with abid to
neutralize them and end their menace.Conduct an audit on the welfare and protection of our security agents and ensure that they are treated as critical national assets.
We appeal to our fellow compatriots to find
ways of honoring these gallant officers and
demonstrating support for our security forces. First, by observing a period of national mourning, demanding for their protection,and expressing gratitude for their continued
service in civic spaces, including on online plat-
forms.
Batallion, Bomadi, LGA of Delta State by unknown assailants in the Okuama community of Ugheli South Local Government Area and the oko-laba community of the Bomadi Local Government area in Delta State, on Thursday, March 14, 2024.
The officers were ambushed and killed while responding to a distress call after
intercommunal clash between Okuma and
okolaba Communities. The facts that surround
the circumstances in which our gallant officers,
who had been deployed to the community to
maintain peace and order, were killed are still
unclear. The Nigerian Army has communicated
its intention to investigate the event and ensure that the perpetrators of this dastardly act are apprehended and that justice is served.For our gallant officers, the onerous duty of defending and protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity comes with the added responsibility
of protecting the nation against external and internal aggressors.This imperative has
become more pronounced in the face of escalating onslaughts by terrorists and other organized criminal groups. over the past decade and a half, more than 3000 officers have paid the ultimate price for our continued freedom.Last year, at least 262 state security personnel
were violently killed defending our country. In
the first quarter of this year alone, we have recorded the killings of at least 62 state security agents.
and a vibrant judiciary to stop the incessant killing of men in uniforms.
We cannot afford as a country to continue to
waste the lives of our stellar security officers,
nor can we indefinitely continue to apply band-aid measures to the various theaters of conflict spread across our country. We also cannot ignore the palpable fear by innocent members of these communities that innocent residents will
become scapegoats, from whom vengeance will be exacted for the loss of our officers. ODI community and Zaki Biam massacres are recent examples of security personnel exacting vengeance for the loss of their colleagues.
We therefore urge caution on both sides.There need not be any further bloodshed. The
matter should be investigated with the utmost respect for human rights, and justify should be exerted only by the camp promptly.
