Army denies reprisal attacks in Delta community, vows to arrest killers of 16 soldiers

The Nigerian Army has denied reports alleging that its operatives launched reprisal attacks on the Delta State community where several troops were murdered last week.

Newspot reports that at least 16 soldiers of 181 Amphibious Battalion of the Nigerian Army, who were on a peaceful and mediatory mission in Okuama and Okoloba communities in Ughelli South and Bomadi LGAs of Delta State, were murdered by armed gangs in the communities.

An army commander, two majors, one captain and 12 soldiers were killed in the heinous attack.

A few days after the unfortunate incident, reports emerged that troops invaded some communities in the area, attacked residents and set houses ablaze.

A statement issued on Monday by the Director of Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, said there “will be no reprisal on the part of the troops.”

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According to the statement, the peddlers of the alleged fake news are members of the community who are making efforts to cover up the dastardly act.

The army also vowed that anyone found wanting in the unfortunate incident would be apprehended and brought to book.

Onyema urged members of the community to go about their lawful businesses, saying the criminals responsible for the killing of the troops would be identified and isolated to account for their atrocious deeds.

Part of the statement reads: “The community complicit in this dastardly act has resorted to media propaganda and shenanigans rather than engage in a positive effort to fish out the perpetrators of this heinous crime. This again is a clear indication that the murder of the troops was a communally orchestrated attack against legitimate forces.

“The falsehood being peddled by these criminals and their cohorts to whip up sentiments and sway the public to cover up, 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.

“There is no amount of propaganda that would arm-twist the narrative; they are complicit and must be ready to face the wrath of the law.

“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.”