Okuama: Akpabio Says Foreign Mercenaries Behind Attack on Military

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has blamed foreign mercenaries for the killing of soldiers in the Okuama Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.

“We are not at war. I don’t think they are from the Niger Delta. They may be mercenaries.”

Speaking on Tuesday plenary during a debate on two merged motions by Senators Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, APC, Katsina Central, and Edeh Dafinone, APC, Delta Central, Akpabio opined that those who killed the soldiers may be mercenaries.

The Senate ordered a probe into the killings as it has asked its Committee on Defence, Army, Navy, and Air Force to liaise with the Military authorities to get more information on the remote and immediate cause of what it described as “a dastardly act.”

The Senate, however, rejected a prayer to observe a minute silence or to commiserate with the families of innocent civilians killed in the process, saying that their numbers are still unknown.

And also rejected an additional prayer for relief materials for the community by the National Emergency Management Agency, the Upper Chamber resolved that families of the killed soldiers should be compensated immediately as moved by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau, and seconded by Senator Tony Nwoye.

On Thursday, March 14, 15 personnel of the Nigerian Army during a peace mission to Okuama Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State were ambushed and killed by armed men in the community.