“The government must take decisive measures to prevent such atrocities from recurring. The culprits, especially the youths involved, must be swiftly brought to justice. The traditional rulers overseeing this tragedy must face the consequences for their negligence.”
This is the position canvassed by the Alumni of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), in a statement reacting to the killing of 16 military personnel in Delta State on March 14.
NIPSS described the killing which was carried out by youths when the soldiers responded to a distress call over the clash between Okuama and Okoloba communities, as an “unforgivable affront to our nation’s values.”
The statement by the NIPSS President, Emmanuel Okafor, demanded that the perpetrators, including the community leaders, must face the law.
The statement read:
“The Alumni Association of the National Institute vehemently condemns the spine-chilling assault on our brave troops of the 181 Amphibious Battalion, Bomadi LGA, Delta State. This is an unforgivable affront to our nation’s values, therefore our hearts bleed for the families of these fallen heroes and all Nigerians.
“Consequently, this despicable act of barbarism must not be swept under the rug. We demand swift and decisive action from both the Federal and Delta State governments. The perpetrators, including the community leaders, must face the full force of the law.
“No one who dares to spill the blood of our defenders and attack Nigeria should escape justice. The perpetrators must face swift justice, with no leniency shown to those who dare to spill the blood of our beloved soldiers for whatever reason.”
The NIPSS alumni feared that the attack could discourage future peace efforts, urging the government to prevent a recurrence of the incident.
“This cowardly attack not only dampens our spirits but also threatens future peace efforts as it strikes at the heart of our nation’s resolve for peace.”
NIPSS is a policy formation centre for bureaucrats, private sector leaders, military officers and medium – rank and senior civil servants.
