The Defence Ministry yesterday assured that the military would not fail to arrest the killers of the officers and soldiers as directed by President Bola Tinubu.

Like Tinubu, the ministry condemned the killings as unacceptable and warned that no threat to the nation’s stability would be tolerated..

Defence Ministry’s spokesman, Henshaw Ogubike, said in a statement that Defence Minister, Mohammed Badaru and Minister of Defence( state), Bello Matawalle saw the killings as a matter of grave concern.

“The tragic incident underscores the immense sacrifices made by our servicemen and women in the defence of our nation.

“Their unwavering dedication and courage in the face of danger exemplify the highest ideals of patriotism and duty.

“President Bola Tinubu has directed the Chief of Defence Staff, to investigate the incident to ensure that those responsible for the attack face the full force of the law,’’ Ogubike said in the statement.

He quoted Badaru as restating the commitment of the ministry to safeguard the security and well-being of all Nigerians.

He said: “We assure the Nigerian people that every effort will be made to bring the perpetrators to justice.

“We remain resolute in our pursuit of peace and tranquillity across the nation in line with the `Renewed Hope’ agenda of President Tinubu.

“Our unwavering support for the armed forces and their efforts to maintain peace and stability across the country is not negotiable.

“We will continue to work tirelessly towards achieving lasting peace and tranquillity in every region of our dear country.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, colleagues, and loved ones of the fallen soldiers, as well as with the entire nation mourning this irreparable loss.

“We stand united in grief with all well-meaning Nigerians and the men and women of our armed forces during this difficult time,’’

Senate. : AbdulRazaq, Rep, groups condemn killing

The Senate, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, a member of the House of Representatives, Francis Waive and the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), also decried the killings of the security operatives.

They welcomed President Tinubu’s directive for the arrest of the killers.

The Senate, through the Chairman of its Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu, described the killing as “a perfidious height of a barbaric and heinous crime..”

A statement of the incident by Adaramodu, reads partly: “The Senate leadership and all distinguished Senators of the 10^th Senate condemn this attack and convey their deepest condolences to the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, the Nigerian Army, officers and men of Operation Delta Safe as well as the families of all the personnel who have lost their lives.

“We consequently support the President, the Commander of the Nigerian Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s charge to the security authorities to smoke out the undesirable outlaws who put off the glowing lights of those promising officers and men.”

Governor AbdulRazaq praised Tinubu for his swift directive to the military to fish out the perpetrators.

He said: “What happened is unacceptable, and I sympathise with the Nigerian Army for what happened in Delta state. It is annoying to the government and Nigeria as a nation.

“How can you just kill people like that? And we align with what President Bola Tinubu said that we must apprehend them (killers). It’s very unfortunate.

“We sympathise with the military and the families affected, and we pray that such a thing never happens again,” he added.

Waive, who represents Ughelli North, South and Udu federal constituency in the National Assembly, urged all parties to the crisis to “ceasefire and allow peace to reign”.

He called for an unbiased investigation of the incident, saying all the perpetrators must be brought to book.

IPCR Director- General. Joseph Ochogwu, also said that the President and the military deserved support in their efforts to arrest the killers of the operatives.

“The killing of our trained officers and soldiers, who were on a peace mission has portrayed the country in a bad light at a point when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is using all within his power to wage war against insecurity.”

“We are calling for thorough investigation into the incident and urge the military to remain very professional at all times no matter the provocation,” Ochogwu added. (The Nation: Text, Excluding Headline)

•Photo of the 17 soldiers who were killed by irate youths in Okuama, Ughelli South Local Government Area (LGA) of Delta State.

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