Nigeria's President Bola Ahmed Tinubu revealed on Wednesday that the sacrifices of the 16 soldiers slain last week in Okuama, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, would not be in vain.
Commenting during the breaking of the Ramadan fast at State House, Abuja, with Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the leadership of the House, President Tinubu affirmed that the departed military operatives would be given befitting burial and national honours.
Tinubu's comments came as Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State affirmed on Wednesday, March 20, that the killers of the military men must be fished out and treated as hoodlums.
The governor urged a concerted effort and support for the military and other security agencies to enable them to bring the killers to justice.
Diri criticised the killings and expressed his deep condolences and that of the Bayelsa State government to the families of the slain military personnel, the armed forces, and the army in general. He emphasized that no effort should be spared in bringing the criminals to justice.
Delta State Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda, revealed that the army had yet to grant the police access to Okuama. He stated that the area was still volatile and deserted.
Speaking on the deaths of the military men on national duty, President Tinubu said, In responding to distress calls, they met the end of their lives in a savage manner. Let us work to sympathise with and symbolise the fact that they are worth the sacrifices they have made for Nigeria.
We salute all our men and women in uniform, and we sympathise with them. I will soon make further pronouncements, but they must have a befitting burial and national honours.
