From Joseph Obukata, Warri
Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has assured that the federal and state governments would find a way to bring succour to the families of victims of Okuama killings.
He said the government would ensure that the fallen soldiers were given a befitting burial, while “we must see how we can find succour for their families.”
His words: “The way forward is in two ways. The people that have been killed, the officers and soldiers, we must see how we can find succour for their families, and how they can be given a befitting burial, and then the community, anything that has happened in the community in the past will not happen again.”
Continuing, he said: “The two communities in question have been having issues for years, and last month on February 7, they were invited by the state government, where the members representing the two local governments, the council chairmen and leaders of the communities, agreed to work together and they signed a peace accord.
“We condemned the killing of the officers and the soldiers because they were there on a peace mission. What is happening now is something that we did not bargain for.
“I want to assure everybody that there will be no more attacks on the villages. If there is anyone that has happened in the past, there will be no more attacks, but we know that those who are culpable will be brought to book; the innocent citizens will not be attacked.
“Yesterday, I was in Bomadi for a security meeting to get a full briefing. So, some of those issues are security issues that you can’t say publicly, so we are managing the situation.
“The issue of whether a place has been burnt down or people have been killed, it has happened and what we want is the way forward.”
Recall that 17 military personnel, including a lieutenant colonel, two majors, one captain, and 13 soldiers were killed, while on a peacekeeping mission in Okuama community.
While the Delta State and the Federal Governments have condemned the incident, promising that perpetrators would be apprehended and made to face the wrath of the law, the visit of the State Governor to the presidency was to brief Mr President on the development.