Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, on Friday, urged the Defence Headquarters' Board of Enquiry to be open while investigating the Okuama killings.
On March 14, a group of military personnel including four officers and 13 soldiers were murdered attacked by angry young people in the Okuama community in Delta State while on a peace mission.
Oborevwori also warned that innocent citizens should not suffer more.
He spoke in Warri when he received a visit from the Chairman and members of the Board of Enquiry set up by the Defence Headquarters to investigate the Okuama killings at the Government House Annex.
He also mentioned that his administration is upset about the crisis that led to the killing.
While assuring them that the state government would help the board with its task, he described how the state had managed the situation.
He described how, in order to honor the deceased officers and soldiers, he led a high-level group of members of the State Security Council and members of the State Executive Council to attend the funeral of the slain officers and soldiers in Abuja.
He stated, “I am very happy for this meeting happening here today in Warri. Most people who talked about the issue did so unknowingly because they lacked true knowledge of what happened.
“Setting up this Board of Enquiry is a good thing. In my MORE Agenda, we said we are going to ensure peace and security, and for the first time in a long while, we celebrated Christmas without any problems and I must thank security agencies in the state for their good work.
“In Delta State, there are two bodies we take seriously: the Advisory and Peace Building Council and the Peace Building and Conflict Resolution – because they are working hard to ensure lasting peace in the state.
“I told the Secretary to the State Government to invite the Okuama/Okoloba people. So, l made it compulsory for the Chairmen of Ughelli South and Bomadi Local Government Councils to be present, the members of the State House of Assembly representing the constituencies should also be present, and the Presidents-General of the communities should be present.
“That meeting was held on the 7th of February, and they signed a peace agreement. So, we were not expecting anything negative when the military went there for a peace mission.”
The governor added, “In Delta State, we don’t encourage conflict. So, we want to assure you that whatever information you need, we will provide it, and we will also come up with our position paper to submit to you before you leave.
“That will also guide you on the role that we have played as a state because if we don’t come with this position paper, you will not know the role that the state has played”.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Board of Enquiry, Air Vice Marshal David Ajayi, revealed that the Board was in the state to investigate the unfortunate incident that occurred at Okuama.
Ajayi said, “We are here as a fact-finding mission and not to assign blame. We are here to collect facts from security agencies, community leaders, and community residents.
The report will also help to make sure there is good communication that will improve the relationship between the military and civilians and make sure that economic activities can thrive in the affected areas.
He asked the governor to help the board in its investigation to make sure that important people were invited to explain what caused the crisis.
