Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has urged the Nigerian police to swiftly find and prosecute those responsible for the killing of 16 soldiers in Delta State.
The victims, including a lieutenant colonel, two majors, and a captain, were attacked while on a peacekeeping mission in Okuoma, Bomadi Local Government Area (LGA) of Delta State.
The soldiers had responded to a distress call following a communal clash between the Okuama and Okoloba communities. Tragically, they were met with deadly violence, resulting in their deaths.
Reports indicate that some suspects linked to the attack have been apprehended.
Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), in a statement issued on Saturday, commended the Nigerian Army for their restraint in refraining from launching reprisal attacks on the communities involved.
“We join the members of civilized humanity in condemning the brutality meted out to the military officers and soldiers as they were deployed for a peacekeeping mission to resolve the crisis in two warring communities in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State,” Falana said.
He added, “We are, however, pleased to note that the military remains focused and committed to its mandate of maintaining peace and security in the country.”
Falana highlighted the significance of avoiding further bloodshed, citing past incidents in which military interventions resulted in the loss of innocent lives.
Expressing support for the authorities’ efforts to maintain peace, Falana called on the Delta State government and local authorities to collaborate with the police in identifying and bringing the perpetrators of the heinous crime to justice.
“By all means, the army should avoid a repeat of the history of having multiple tragedies,” he concluded.
