The Service Chiefs met with the Senate Joint Committee on Defence, Army, Navy, and Air Force on Wednesday in Abuja on the gruesome murder of sixteen soldiers in the Okuoma Community of Delta state.
Before going into a closed-door session, the gathering held a minute of silence in memory of the 16 fallen servicemen.
The Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Ahmad Lawan, spoke out and denounced the troops’ deaths.
According to him:
“The troops of 181 Amphibious battalion, on Thursday, 14 March, 2024, went on a peace mission to Okuoma Community in Delta.
“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.
“Acknowledging the gravity of the attack on the military personnel, the Senate at its plenary on Tuesday, March, 19, mandated the Joint Committee on Defence, Army, Navy and Airforce to investigate the incident.
“The Senate also urged the federal government to ensure that those responsible for the heinous crime are identified, apprehended and brought to justice.
“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, in fact, 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.”
cc: Vanguard Ng
