President Bola Tinubu was briefed by Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori on Tuesday regarding the 16 soldiers who were brutally killed in the Okuoma community of the state.
After meeting with the President behind closed doors, the governor gave a briefing to State House media, reassuring them that the situation is under control and that no more attacks will occur.
According to the governor, there are certain things he cannot discuss in public due to security concerns, thus he declined to verify the report of purported military retaliation attacks and the number of casualties.
The location of the incident is virtually deserted, he added, so he was unable to meet with the community members despite meeting with the security chiefs in Bomadi on Monday.
In the Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, during a peacekeeping mission to quell fighting between the Okuama and Okoloba communities, at least sixteen Nigerian soldiers lost their lives.
Responding to the development in a statement he signed on Sunday, Tinubu vowed retribution, saying, “The cowardly offenders responsible for this heinous crime will not go unpunished.”
The response was titled ‘Statement on the killing of Nigerian soldiers on a peace mission to Okuoma community in Delta State.’
The military high command is already responding to the event, Tinubu noted, but he issued further directives for the manhunt and conviction of the offenders.
“The Defence Headquarters and Chief of Defence Staff have been granted full authority to bring to justice anybody found to have been responsible for this unconscionable crime against the Nigerian people.” he stated.