Senate President Godswill Akpabio suggested on Tuesday that the perpetrators behind the recent attack that claimed the lives of 16 soldiers in Delta State may not be Nigerians but rather mercenaries from abroad.
The assault occurred last Thursday, March 14, when armed assailants attacked a peacekeeping mission in the Okuama Community of Ughelli South Local Government Area in Delta State, resulting in the deaths of 15 Nigerian Army personnel.
In a parliamentary session marked by grave concern, Akpabio expressed his views during a debate on merged motions brought forward by Senators Abdulaziz Yar’Adua of the APC representing Katsina Central, and Edeh Dafinone, also of the APC and representing Delta Central. Akpabio suggested, “We are not at war. I don’t think they are from the Niger Delta. They may be mercenaries.”
Responding to the urgent need for action, the Senate swiftly mandated its Committee on Defence, Army, Navy, and Air Force to collaborate with military authorities to investigate the incident thoroughly. The aim is to uncover both the immediate and underlying causes of what the Senate described as “a dastardly act.”
Additionally, the Senate called upon the Federal Government to apprehend the perpetrators swiftly and bring them to justice. In a solemn moment of tribute, the chamber observed a minute of silence in honor of the fallen soldiers.
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Moreover, the Senate emphasized the importance of bolstering the nation’s police force to prevent the military from being embroiled in civil matters, a proposal echoed by the legislators.
However, amidst the calls for justice and heightened security measures, the Senate rejected a motion to extend condolences or observe a minute of silence for the families of innocent civilians who lost their lives in the attack, citing uncertainty regarding their numbers.
Similarly, a proposal for relief aid from the National Emergency Management Agency for the affected community was turned down by the Senate. Nevertheless, the Upper Chamber unanimously agreed to compensate the families of the deceased soldiers promptly, as suggested by Deputy Senate President Senator Jibrin Barau and endorsed by Senator Tony Nwoye.#Mercenaries
