The military, particularly the Nigerian Army, as well as other right-thinking and law-abiding countrymen and women, are mourning the death of an Army Colonel, two Majors, one Captain, and 12 other soldiers who lost their lives last Thursday, March 14, in sad and gruesome circumstances in Delta State.
It was gathered that the military personnel had responded to a distress call following a communal clash between the Okuama and Okoloba communities in Delta State.
Confirming the incident in a statement on Saturday, Acting Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, said the victims were surrounded by some community youths when troops of the 181 Amphibious Battalion were on a peace mission in the Bomadi Local Government Area of the state. He said the unfortunate incident occurred in the periphery of Okuama and Okoloba communities. The reinforcement team, led by the commanding officer, was also attacked, leading to the death of the commanding officer, two majors, one captain, and 12 soldiers.
The defence spokesman said the incident has been reported to the Delta State Government and that the Chief of Defence Staff has directed that the culprits be unmasked. He also reiterated the commitment of the military to its mandate of maintaining peace and security in various parts of the country.
Some suspects have reportedly been arrested in connection with the incident, which is cheering news.
We commiserate wholeheartedly with the Nigerian Army on the mindless murder of its worthy officers and men in the line of duty and appeal to them to maintain calm and due process in the pursuit of the matter going forward. We likewise condole with the families and loved ones of our fallen heroes.
We observe that this occurrence is one too many and that an end needs to be put to such lawless and savage conduct.
Having said that, it is good to note that an investigation is underway and civil and military authorities have been notified and would be participating or carried along in the investigation to ensure thoroughness, due process, maturity and justice in the proceedings.
This sad development raises some pertinent issues, though. Perhaps first of these is the need to address the pervasive use of psychotropic drugs among our youth, particularly in low-income areas such as the remote areas of the Niger Delta.
There have been concerns raised, including by the Delta State governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, about escalating levels of illicit drug use and addiction around the country and in the Niger Delta. It is difficult to conceive that sober and right-thinking individuals would contemplate such a heinous crime.
Then there is the role and duty of parents and community leaders in nurturing and mentoring the youth on the value of patriotism, peace and civil conduct. It would seem that not enough of this is being done, or that there may be some impediment to the process of parenting and mentoring and this needs be to investigated and addressed.
It has also been said, time and again, that one source of the restiveness among the youth in the Niger Delta, as in other areas, has to do with lack of education or an insufficiency of it, as well as a failure to skill the youth in artisanal vocations to enable them to be self-sustaining and reasonably comfortable and stable.
There is also the matter of the pervasive shortage of infrastructure such as electricity, potable water, roads and so on, which set the framework for the envisioning and pursuit of stability and the individual’s best self.
There is likewise the much-talked-about insincerity and misgovernance at base local levels which exacerbate poverty, distrust and despondency.
All of these challenges need to be addressed with sincerity, focus and resolve to smoothen the strains, misgivings and misconduct that they generate so we can have a better society.
On a final note, we once again condole with the military and thank them heartily for the great sacrifices they have pledged and are often called to make so that the Nigerian nation can have a chance at peace and prosperity.
