Delta killings: The innocent will be spared if you don’t hide perpetrators — Oborevwori tells Traditional rulers

…You can’t kill our men and go scot free – Defence Minister

Governor of Delta state, Sheriff Oborevwori has told traditional rulers that the only way to guarantee the safety of the residents of the state is to fish out the perpetrators behind the killing of the 16 army personnels.

Reports had earlier emerged that soldiers were slain while on a peacekeeping mission between two conflicting communities: Okuama in Bomadi Local Government Area and Okoloba in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State. This has led the army forces into mourning and a renewed vigour to end insecurity.

While addressing traditional rulers at the State Traditional Rulers’ Council Secretariat in Asaba, Oborevwori described the attack on the military personnel as barbaric, inhumane and unacceptable.

The Governor vowed that those who committed the dastardly act would be made to face the full wrath of the law, emphasising that, “We need to fish out those involved.”

He said the Chief of Army Staff and the President had assured him “that innocent people will not be victimised; unless you connive with the killers of the soldiers.”

He reiterated that the act was alien to the state, maintaining that the State was governed within the tenets of the rule of law and human decency.

He said; “On the 7th of February, we summoned the people of Okoloba and Okuoma communities in Bomadi and Ughelli South Local Government Areas including the members representing the two constituencies in the State House of Assembly, the Council Chairmen and their Presidents-General where we advised them that a lot has been happening in their area and they signed a peace accord.

“The killing of these Army Officers and soldiers came as a rude shock to us and when this thing happened, I immediately called the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Defence Staff and the Army Staff because I was in Abuja. I came back and issued a press statement.

“On Monday, I went to Bomadi to meet with all the security chiefs, where we had our security council meeting and I got briefings from the Brigade Commander. In attendance was the G.O.C 6 Division Nigeria Army, Maj Gen Jamil Abdussalam and the JTF Commander, Real Admiral John Okeke.

“After the meeting, I went to Abuja to meet with Mr. President to brief him on what happened. I also went to see the Chief of Army Staff to discuss with him. I also met with the National Security Adviser and the Inspector General of Police.

“I felt that it is also proper that I brief you people even though you may be aware. Those people who committed that evil act must face the wrath of the law. No kingdom should shield those criminals because Delta state is governed by the tenets of the law and human decency.

“We cannot tolerate that. It has never happened in this state; to kill one Lt. Colonel, two Majors, one Captain and 13 Soldiers. We need to fish out those involved.

“Do not hide or shield anybody. The Chief of Army Staff and Mr. President have assured me that innocent people will not be victimised; unless you connive with the killers of the soldiers.

“I have briefed you and make sure that you fish them out from your kingdoms. If any traditional ruler shields a criminal, that traditional ruler is inviting trouble.

“We did not bargain for this evil act but for peace, I don’t want a crisis. I have also received information that two other villages are boiling to fight, they should not fight, we want peace in all our communities.

“What are they fighting for? I have promised you people that I am going to do more for Deltans, so what are they fighting for? All of us are Deltans and we want development.

“For the first time in almost two decades, we had peace in Warri in December and people celebrated in peace. Now we have a communal crisis, why?

“I condemn it and it’s unacceptable. So please my dear royal fathers let us be on the same page to fish out these people. Don’t allow anybody who committed this evil act to come to your kingdoms and bring problems to your community.

“Tell us and we will hand them over to security agencies. You should not play politics with this. Don’t say that the Army has taken over your village because they cannot just come to your village without getting information. But I assure you people that no innocent person will be victimised.

“Tell your people not to encourage a crisis because if you do, you cannot come out of it. Some people don’t have knowledge of what is happening and they start talking. What I did was to go and brief the Commander in Chief and later granted the State House Correspondents interview.”

In the same vein, Minister of Defence, Alhaji Muhammed Badaru Abubakar has vowed to fish out the killers of soldiers in Delta state.

“We will find the killers of our soldiers and deal with them. You don’t kill our men and go scot-free, we will deal with them squarely,” He said.

Badaru also pledged to recover the kidnapped students of Kuriga in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State noting that efforts are being made to effect the arrest of the perpetrators.

While addressing troops of 1 Division Nigerian Army in Kaduna on Thursday, the Minister told the troops that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is aware of their sacrifices and happy with their efforts, and while commending your efforts, he has also asked that you do more to end all forms of insecurity in Nigeria.

“We have the power, will, strength and determination and our morale is high to end insecurity, I know what you have been doing to rescue the school children unhurt, keep the morale high, the President is behind you hundred percent.

“I have been briefed about your efforts to rescue the kidnapped school children. The strategies that I have been briefed about are going on very well and I am sure you will get them.

“We will free those children and bring them back to their parents. We thank you for your sleepless nights to keep us safe,” he said.