Senate President, Godswill Akpabio has stated that he doesn’t believe that those behind the killing of sixteen military personnel in Okuama community in Ughelli South local government area of Delta state last week, are from Niger Delta.
Speaking during plenary today, March 19, Akpabio countered a motion raised by Senator Edeh Dafinone, who represents Delta Central, calling for relief and assistance to people of the community who suffered retaliation attacks following the killing of soldiers, who were on a peacekeeping mission in their community.
Over the weekend, several houses in the community were burned down, and there have been reports of several deaths.
Reacting to Dafinone’s motion, Akpabio asked the lawmaker not to conclude yet and that an investigation has to be carried out to determine the culprits behind the dastard act. In his words;
‘’I don’t want you to conclude. I don’t believe these people are from the Niger Delta – those who did the killings. We respect men and women in uniform, that is why I am saying that your additional prayers should actually be ‘to carry out a thorough investigation to know whether these people were mercenaries from outside Niger Delta who came to commit this crime because I don’t think these people are Niger Deltans.
We are not at war. Even in the face of war, to lose such number of personnel…. No community will go to the extent of doing this kind of thing. I don’t think they are from Niger Delta. I think the first point should be that we should first establish the culprits who committed this crime. We must take it seriously. Supposing they are not from Niger Delta? Supposing they are not even Nigerians? And we now come and talk about giving relief materials to …people should pay for the consequences of their crime. I will not support relief material”