BREAKING: 16 soldiers’ killers may be foreign mercenaries, not locals – Akpabio

During a Senate session on Tuesday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio suggested that the perpetrators behind the killing of soldiers in Delta State might be foreigners. The attack, which occurred on March 14th, claimed the lives of 15 Nigerian Army personnel during a peace mission to Okuama Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area.

Expressing his views during a debate led by Senators Abdulaziz Yar’Adua and Edeh Dafinone, Akpabio speculated that the assailants could potentially be mercenaries, emphasizing that Nigeria is not engaged in a state of war. Consequently, the Senate directed its Committee on Defence, Army, Navy, and Air Force to collaborate with military authorities to uncover the underlying reasons behind the “dastardly act.”

In addition, the Senate urged the Federal Government to apprehend the culprits and ensure they face justice, while observing a minute of silence in honor of the fallen soldiers. Furthermore, recognizing the need to prevent the military from being drawn into civilian affairs, the Senate advocated for the recruitment of additional policemen.

However, the Senate declined to observe a minute of silence or extend condolences to the families of innocent civilians who were also victims of the incident, citing the lack of confirmed casualty figures. Additionally, while rejecting a proposal for relief materials from the National Emergency Management Agency, the Senate endorsed immediate compensation for the families of the deceased soldiers, as proposed by Deputy Senate President Senator Jibrin Barau and seconded by Senator Tony Nwoye.