The Delta State Advisory and Peace Building Council (DSA&PBC) has expressed uneqivocal condemnation of the killing of Nigerian Army officers and soldiers at Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of the State and spoke on the need for lifting of the ongoing military siege on the communities to facilitate independent observations, investigations and provision of humanitarian assistance to the needy dwellers.

The Council, at its meeting on Thursday 21st March 2024 at Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba, presided over by its Chairman, Professor Sam Oyovbaire, also expressed condolences to the Nigerian Army authority, the Presidency, the families of the dead officers and soldiers, and to the Government of Delta State for the very unnecesssry colossal loss of lives.

In its resolution at the end of the meeting, the DSA & PBC commended the Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori for his timely responses to what it termed the very sad, complex and sorrowful situation.

In the resolution signed by Prof Sam Oyovbaire, the DSA & PBC said: “As an institution with excellent credentials of advocacy, commitment and activism for the promotion, sustenance and advancement of peace building and conflict resolution, Council re-affirms its dedication to the course and quick process of return to peace and stable livelihood in Okuama and in all other communities afflicted by this unfortunate development.

“Council empathised very strongly with the people of Okuama and all our other communities in Delta and Balyesa states the unfortunate and horrible experiences of suffering and losses.”

The Council urged relevant authorities to fish out the masterminds of the heinous crime with a view to bringing them to justice.

It said: “The perptrators of the criminally bestial killing of the Army officers and soldiers must be apprehended and be duly prosecuted. There must be no hiding locations for these criminals.

“In the mean time, Council calls upon the relevant authorities especially the Nigerian Army and the Presidency to open up all access to the affected communities for uninhibited and safe flow of movement and return by those who fled their homesteads for fear of further afflictions.

“The siege to the communities should be dismantled so as to also facilitate independent observations, investigations and provision of humanitarian assistance to the needy dwellers for peaceful livelihood.”