The Senate Joint Committee on Defence, Army, Navy and Air Force, on Wednesday, met behind closed doors with the Service Chiefs to discuss the recent killing of 17 officers and troops of the Nigerian Army in Okuoma community, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State.
During its plenary on Tuesday, the Senate mandated the joint committee to investigate the killing of the military men and urged the Federal Government to ensure that those responsible for the heinous crime were identified, apprehended, and brought to justice.
At exactly 3:42 pm, the lawmakers gathered with the service chiefs, including Gen Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff; Lt. Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff; Air Marshal Hassan, the Chief of Air Staff; and Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, the Chief of Naval Staff.
Senator Ahmad Lawan, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence, also chairs the Joint Committee.
Senator Lawan, while speaking at the investigative hearing conducted by the Joint Committee, recounted the tragic events of March 14, 2024, when troops from the 181 Amphibious battalion were deployed on a peacekeeping mission to Okuoma Community in Delta State. In an unexpected turn of events during this mission, a Commanding Officer, two Majors, a Captain, and 12 soldiers lost their lives.
Lawan stressed the importance of the Federal Government prioritizing security and referred to the killing of the 17 soldiers as “barbaric” and implored Nigerians to aid the Armed Forces by sharing information that could help in apprehending and prosecuting those responsible for various forms of insecurity across the nation.
He also urged the Federal Government to ensure that those responsible for the heinous crime are identified, apprehended, and brought to justice.
Troops were reported on Wednesday to have intensified the manhunt for the killers of the military men.
The Joint Committee members paid tribute to the 17 fallen soldiers with a moment of silence just before the start of the meeting with the Service Chiefs.
