- Governor: Situation under control.
By Abiola Olawale
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has met with President Bola Tinubu amid the ongoing crisis in his state over the killing of over a dozen military personnel in the Okuoma community, Ughelli South Local Government.
The New Diplomat reports that about 16 military personnel comprising a lieutenant colonel, two majors, one captain, and 12 soldiers were killed while on a “peacekeeping mission” in the Okuoma community.
Since the development, there have been pockets of violence across communities in the state, raising panic and fears that the Nigerian Army is allegedly orchestrating a reprisal attack to avenge the death of their colleagues.
According to an insider source who is in the know of developments on the matter, said the reason the Governor went to meet with the president was to find lasting solutions to the crisis. Though Tinubu had condemned the attack on the troops of the Nigerian Army, several Nigerians had lambasted him for ordering the military to fish out the perpetrators of the gruesome crime.
It would be recalled that a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and global activist, Barrister Femi Falana, who spoke with the members of the press on Monday said Tinubu doesn’t have the right to send the Nigerian Army to investigate the carnage that happened in the Okuama community. According to the seasoned lawyer, the police should be the right agency to investigate the incident and bring peace to the affected areas.
Also, a former Nigerian Senator, Shehu Sani had sounded a warning to the Nigerian Army to target the perpetrators of the killing of its personnel in such a way it won’t affect innocent people in Delta state.
According to the former lawmaker, the Army needs to fish out the individuals soiling the peace in Delta state without escalating the crisis in the state.
Meanwhile, briefing the State House correspondents after meeting behind closed doors with the President, Oborevwori said that the situation is under control, assuring that there will be no further attacks.
The governor declined to confirm the report of reprisal attacks allegedly carried out by the military and the number of casualties, saying that there are certain things he cannot say in public.
