Senate President Godswill Akpabio has announced plans to establish a committee to investigate the perpetrators behind the killing of military officers in Delta State, suggesting the involvement of possible mercenaries from outside Nigeria.
The incident, which occurred in the Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, involved troops from the 181 Amphibious Battalion who were attacked while on a peace mission, responding to a distress call amid a communal crisis between Okuoma and Okoloba communities.
During a plenary session, Akpabio condemned the killings, emphasizing that the nation is not at war and calling for peace to be restored in the affected community. He expressed doubt that the perpetrators were from the Niger Delta region and urged for a thorough investigation to ascertain if they were mercenaries from outside the country.
Akpabio stated that a panel would be constituted to ensure that those responsible for the heinous crime are brought to justice.
Senator Abdullaziz Yar’adua and Ede Dafinone moved motions for the issue to be investigated, with Yar’adua urging the federal government to bolster internal security by recruiting more policemen, while emphasizing the need for the military to focus on protecting the country from external threats.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and Senator Ahmad Lawan also condemned the killings, describing them as despicable and barbaric, and called for adequate compensation for the families of the deceased soldiers.
