Gruesome Murder Of Troops In Delta: Resort To Propaganda, Despicable – Army

The Nigerian Army has described “the resorted to media propaganda and shenanigans” by the Okuama community in Delta State over the killing of troops of 181 Amphibious Battalion on a peaceful mission as despicable and a ridiculous attempt at justifying their crime.

The Army therefore declared that there is no amount of propaganda that would arm-twist the narrative, stressing that the community is complicit and must be ready to face the wrath of the law.

About 16 military personnel made up of four officers and 12 other ranks of the 181 Amphibious Battalion of the Nigerian Army (NA), while on a peaceful and mediatory mission, after a reported case of communal clash between Okuama and Okoloba Communities in Ughelli South and Bomadi LGAs of Delta State respectively were killed by some members of the community.

A statement by Major General Onyeama Nwachukwu, Director, Army Public Relations, noted with regret the community complicit in the dastardly act which has resorted to media propaganda and shenanigans, rather than engage in a positive effort to fish out the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

General Nwachukwu said that the resort to media propaganda by the community was a clear indication that the murder of the troops was a communally orchestrated attack against legitimate forces which should be unreservedly condemned by all.

In the word of Nwachukwu; “These were troops committed to peace and security of lives and property of citizens and non-citizens alike in the Niger Delta Region, murdered in cold blood by an armed youth gang of Okuama Community, in the most gruesome, heartless and cruel manner and went ahead to sacrilegiously debase their remains by ripping out their hearts by the very people they were there to protect.

“The falsehood being peddled by these criminals and their cohorts to whip up sentiments and sway the public to coverup, endorse or support the outrageous criminal acts of their armed youth gang should be disregarded in its entirety. “It is only a ridiculous attempt at justifying their crime, rather than turn in themselves to security agencies.

“While law-abiding citizens are assured that there will be no reprisal on the part of the troops, we enjoin all to go about their normal activities, even as ongoing efforts are scaled up to positively identify and isolate the criminals to account for their atrocious deeds,” the Army spokesman said.

The Chief of Army of Staff, Lt Gen Toareed Lagbaja, while commiserating with the families of the officers and soldiers who lost their lives, directed that no stone should be left unturned until the perpetrators of this gruesome acts are apprehended to face the full wrath of the law.

The Army spokesperson said that troops are determined to get to the criminals, stressing that there is certainly no hiding place for them.