The Senate's Defense, Army, Navy, and Airforce joint committee spoke with the country's top military leaders on Wednesday regarding the recent killing of soldiers in Okuoma community, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State.
The meeting started at 3:42 pm and was attended by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa; the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan; and the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla.
The Senate, during its session on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, instructed the joint committee to look into the incident.
The upper chamber also urged the Federal Government to make sure that the individuals responsible for the terrible crime are identified, caught, and brought to justice.
The Joint Committee is led by Senator Ahmad Lawan, who also serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defense.
Prior to the meeting with the service chiefs, members of the Joint Committee observed a minute of silence in honor of the 16 military personnel killed in Okuoma community last Thursday.
In his speech during the joint committee's investigative hearing, Senator Lawan mentioned that “the troops of 181 Amphibious battalion, on Thursday, 14 March, 2024, went on a peace mission to Okuoma Community in Delta State. An incident occurred resulting in the loss of a Commanding Officer, two Majors, a Captain, and 12 Soldiers during the peace mission.
“The troops on the peace mission to Okuoma community in Bomadi local government area of Delta State were surrounded by some community youths, which resulted in the death of officers and men.
“Recognizing the seriousness of the attack on the military personnel, the Senate during its session on Tuesday, 19th March 2024, asked the Joint Committee on Defense, Army, Navy and Airforce to investigate the incident,” he said.
He added, “The Senate also urged the Federal Government to ensure that those responsible for the terrible crime are identified, caught, and brought to justice.”
Lawan also emphasized the need for the federal government to prioritize the issue of security, noting that it should take precedence over investment in any other sector.
He described the killing of the 16 soldiers as “barbaric” and appealed to Nigerians to support the Armed Forces by providing information that could lead to the capture and prosecution of those behind various forms of insecurity across the country.
He added, “We, in the Senate, and, indeed, the National Assembly, will always support our military in whatever way we can. The National Assembly has that history. We try to, at all times, make meaningful appropriation for resources to be available. We know it has never been enough, and I will take this opportunity to commend our Armed Forces for doing so much with the little we can afford.
“The insecurity in our country takes precedence over any other consideration and, therefore, it is the position of the Senate that no investment in any sector can be more important than ensuring that we are secured as a country.
The parliament is very sorrowful about the tragic event. The Senate hopes that the perpetrators will be caught and punished according to the law.
I urge Nigerians to support our Armed Forces, as they cannot protect us without our help. People in the area of the incident should give information to prevent such events from happening again.
