Good morning dear Constituents, the great People of Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency, friends, brothers, sisters, families and members of the press. It has become imperative and compelling to lend my voice in condemning an event which is uncalled for and avoidable loss of lives of Nigerians on the side of the Nigerian Military and the communities affected in Ughelli South and Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency.
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There is no gainsaying that the gruesome and unprovoked murder of sixteen officers and men of the Nigerian army consisting of a Lieutenant Colonel, two majors, a captain and twelve other men of the military by criminals in Okuama community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State is one of the worse things to have happened to our gallant soldiers in recent history.
Let me at this point condole with the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Nigerian Armed Forces, the families of these fallen heroes and the good people of Nigeria.
I am sadly compelled to issue this press statement following the callous and senseless murder of these officers who were said to be on their line of duty at Okuama, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State which event spilled into Igbomotoru, a hitherto peaceful community in my FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY, Southern Ijaw which is more than one hundred and fifty nautical kilometres from Okuama and in less than twenty-four hours spilled into Igbomotoru- my Federal Constituency. This led to the invasion of the once serene community by men said to be of the military in search of the perpetrators of the heinous crime at Okuama. The aftermath of the invasion was the destruction and killing of some innocent and peace loving citizens of IGBOMOTORU community which is rather unfortunate and saddening.
Let me express my heartfelt condolences to the Bayelsa State government and the widows, widowers and the good people of Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency, specifically the Igbomotoru community for the untimely demise of innocent citizens arising from the unfortunate military operations.
I am aware that the Nigerian Army has the capacity to gather intelligence within a short period. The execution of such intelligence reports should be done with utmost caution to minimize collateral damage to innocent and law abiding citizens. I say this, bearing in mind the invasion and carnage that took place in Odi, November 1999 following the killing of some soldiers and policemen which remains fresh in our memories. Caution and professionalism must be the watch word to forestall unpleasant and regrettable consequences in the approach to bringing the culprits to book.
At this juncture, I want to align with the thinking and disposition of the President, His Excellency, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Assembly and all the good people of Nigeria who crave for the swift arrest of those criminals who untimely cut short the lives of those officers and men of the Nigerian army who were merely on a peace mission to Okuama. Their dastardly act has created young widows and orphans whose future is now made bleak.
Please permit me to use this medium to call on the good people of Igbomotoru and the entire Southern-Ijaw Federal Constituency, to be vigilant and report any strange movements in their various communities to the nearest law enforcement agents. Additionally, I implore parents not to even spare taking drastic actions against their children and wards who are getting out of control. There is a biblical saying that if you spare the rod, you spoil the child.
Finally, let me most sincerely thank the Bayelsa State Government and Delta State Government for their swift response. I use this medium to call on Federal Government and International Organizations to send Palliatives to the affected Communities whose livelihood has been affected. Those who have lost bread winners in the process and children who as a result of this unfortunate incident have lost precious school time.
Gentlemen of the press, I thank you for your attention.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
*Being a press statement released by Honourable (Engr.) Rodney Ebikebina Ambaiowei (MNSE), Member Representing Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency on Wednesday, March 27, 2024
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