Follow Us on Google
From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
The Nigerian Peace and Development Advocates (NPDA), on Wednesday, described the killing of 17 soldiers in Delta State by gunmen as an act of treason aimed at intimidating and embarrassing the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
The group made this allegation in a communique which was jointly signed by the National Coordinator, Chukwunonye Okereke and the Secretary, Forster Ugwuoke and presented to journalists during a press conference in Enugu.
They said: “The gruesome murder of men and officers of the Nigerian Army at Okuama community in Delta State Nigeria by Okuama Youths and sponsored militants is denigrating and condemned as the most unacceptable act of treason. In clear terms, an act against the Nigerian State.
“What is going on in the Niger Delta is the mindless criminality of oil bunkerers. The mousing owls have begun to hawk on our gallant officers to give way for their continued divestments of our collective patrimony in the Niger Delta and it is unacceptable.
“It is understandable that soldiers of “Operation Delta Safe” in the ordinary course of duty were in Okuama to interface with the elders to secure the release of a Nigerian that was taken hostage by Okuama youths, unknown to them that people in authority insulated by immunity had authorised their massacre to intimidate the Nigerian state and instil fear in the Commander in Chief, thereby making Nigeria ungovernable for their selfish political and economic gains.
The group demanded that “A thorough investigation be carried out to unmask the faces behind the current treason as we are certain that the militant youths did not act on their own volition.
“That anyone found culpable no matter how highly placed be timeously brought to face the wrath of the law.
“If anyone found culpable is currently enjoying immunity, that such person be stripped of his immunity with immediate effect and all his security details withdrawn as the person cannot declare war against the Federal Republic of Nigeria and still enjoys the protection of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“That state of emergency be declared on any territory that has with implicit support of local authorities wittingly or unwittingly taken up arms against the Nigerian state.”
