Foreigners suspected in deaths of Nigerian Troops – Akpabio

Foreigners suspected in deaths of Nigerian Troops – Akpabio

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, shared on Tuesday his doubt that Nigerians were responsible for the upsetting deaths of soldiers in Delta State.

During a discussion on two combined motions by Senators Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, APC, Katsina Central, and Edeh Dafinone, APC, Delta Central, Akpabio suggested that the perpetrators might be mercenaries.

He said, “We are not at war. I don’t think they are from the Niger Delta. They may be mercenaries.”

READ ALSO: Killers of military personnel in Delta won’t go unpunished, Tinubu vows

Okuama and Okoloba communities have been in dispute over the ownership of a controversial land lying on their border since January, and the crisis between them has led to the killing of many people, including children.

When another fight broke out on Thursday, March 14, the Nigerian Army deployed soldiers for a peacekeeping mission to the communities. The soldiers were, however, gruesomely murdered, leading to public outrage.

Meanwhile communities in Ughelli South and Bomadi local government areas have been taken over by troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, who also oversee the 63 brigade in Asaba. While there have been videos of houses being razed on Sunday morning, it is not clear yet if it was soldiers on a revenge mission who razed houses, but many residents have abandoned their homes.

In his condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers, Tinubu said the cowardly offenders responsible for the heinous crime will not go unpunished.