Blood of security men, soldiers, police, etc. has continued to flow freely in the Niger Delta area again. There appeared to have been some respite, but the criminals, some presenting themselves as militants, others as freedom fighters, have resumed their nefarious activities. Barely one week after the gruesome murder of 17 army officers and men on a peacekeeping mission to Okuama in Ughelli, Delta State, the six police officers who were sent to investigate the disappearance of three others, were ambushed and felled by the notorious criminals.

This is another killing too many. About the same time, two police officers were felled in Imo State. Incidentally, the task of putting an end to these unacceptable killing of security officers falls on them. Nigeria can no longer afford the regular murder of trained and brave officers. Although the police have announced that eight persons have been arrested in connection with the incident, we hope that the investigation would be speedily concluded and the suspects arraigned in court. In the same way, we call for combined efforts of the security men to apprehend those who killed the officers and men of the 181 Amphibious Battalion earlier.

Unless the probe into these killings are quickly concluded and the criminals served justice, others will be encouraged to follow their path. We, therefore, call on all the security forces and government at all levels to spare no resources, human and material, in resolving the murders. This will rekindle the confidence of the people in the security forces, since many are likely to ask why they should entrust their security to people who cannot protect themselves.

We restate our repeated call that government should step up the training and equipping of the police force to adequately take up the responsibility of internal security. This will not only free the military to face its primary role of keeping out external aggressors, but ensure that civil crimes in communities that men of the armed forces may be unfamiliar with are swiftly dealt with.

It is obvious that crude oil, a national resource and asset is the main reason for these killings. While the country continues to bleed, with the attendant consequences, the oil thieves continue to operate freely, thus arresting national infrastructural development. Government should device new strategies of stopping this unfortunate and unwholesome development.

We note that the United States of America recently offered support to curb the menace. We urge the government to accept help from any developed country that makes the offer. The federal and state governments also have a duty to work closely with traditional and community leaders. Where some are found to have colluded with the saboteurs and murderers, they should be brought to book.

Nigeria cannot afford to go the way of countries like Somalia that have failed. We should not believe that it is impossible without taking the necessary action to prevent it. Any country where non-state actors are holding the people in many communities by the jugular, or willfully kill official security men must wake up to ensure that the people know that the state is intact and in charge.

The killers in Delta State should not be allowed to roam freely, whether they have fled to another community or the forest. They must be fished out to deter others in any part of the country from taking on the state. Whoever kills our soldiers and policemen is an enemy of the state and deserves to pay for the crime. It is important that the Federal Government consults with retired officers of the security forces to devise new strategies to restore our national dignity.

Update news