In a disturbing turn of events, a call for extreme violence has emerged following the tragic killing of Nigerian soldiers during a peacekeeping mission in Delta State. The situation has escalated to a point where some individuals, including Sulaiman Pooja Adebayo, popularly known as POOJA, Bashir Ahmad, Adamu Hayatu, and Arewa Twitter Connect, and others are advocating for the destruction of the community involved in the incident and the indigenes living in it.
The Nigerian Army, in its official statement, confirmed the deaths of several officers, including a Lieutenant Colonel, two Majors, one Captain, and 12 soldiers. These brave men lost their lives while attempting to resolve a longstanding conflict between the Okuama and Okoloba communities in Delta State. The soldiers were ambushed and killed while on a rescue mission to free a hostage, Mr. Anthony Aboh, who was allegedly abducted amid the ongoing dispute between the two communities.
READ ALSO: Delta Community Razed by Soldiers After Killing of 16 Military Personnel, Residents Flee
Despite the tragedy, the response from certain quarters has been deeply troubling. POOJA, using his Twitter handle @poojamedia, expressed shock and called for the complete leveling of the Okuama community. Similarly, Bashir Ahmad, a former recharge card seller and later former Special Assistant to the President on Digital Communication, echoed sentiments of violence, urging retaliation in a language that the perpetrators would understand. Adamu Hayatu and Arewa Twitter Connect also added their voices to the chorus, advocating for the community to be burnt to ashes.
However, such calls for retribution through mass violence have been deemed as alarming and unjustifiable.
In the wake of these disturbing developments, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has rightly ordered the immediate arrest and investigation of all those involved in the heinous crime. It is imperative that justice be served, but it must be done within the confines of the law, ensuring that innocent lives are not further endangered.
Furthermore, all stakeholders, including the Delta State Government and community leaders, have been urged to work together to de-escalate tensions and seek peaceful resolutions to the underlying conflicts.
