Ohanaeze laments the cruel killing of soldiers in the Delta.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo, a pan-Igbo sociopolitical organization, has denounced the deaths of seventeen soldiers from the Nigerian Army’s 181 Amphibious Battalion in Delta State.
On Thursday, the soldiers were attacked while on a peace mission to the Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area.
Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the group’s secretary-general, released a statement titled “Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s Unleashed Wrath: A Stern Revengeful Warning” on Tuesday. The statement described the Okuama massacre as “a tragic chapter stained in blood which has left Ndigbo in a state of deep mourning, profound sorrow, and unrelenting anger.”
“The statement reads as a bitter reminder of the treachery that lurks among us—the callous and heinous act that claimed the lives of 17 soldiers from the 181 Amphibious Battalion in Delta State.”
Ohanaeze Ndigbo expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Igbo commander Major DE Obi and his fellow soldiers who gave their life for the cause.
The organization declared, “We brand the perpetrators of this vile slaughter as barbaric, satanic, and symbolic of cowardice, and we hurl our unrestrained fury at them.”
Ohanaeze urged the people of Delta State to rise up together and make sure the murderers are quickly brought to justice.
According to the statement, “the people of Delta State must unite to ensure that these armed killers are brought to swift justice and face the full weight of the law for their sins.”
In addition to expressing its condolences to the bereaved families, Ohanaeze Ndigbo pledged to preserve the memory of Major DE Obi and the other slain troops.
The organization declared, “We will light the flames of tribute for Major DE Obi and the other 16 fallen soldiers in the upcoming 2024 Igbo Easter Retreat in Asaba, immortalizing their legacy in the annals of our history.”
The organization also stated that it supported President Bola Tinubu’s initiatives to deal with the security and economic issues facing the nation.
In addition, the statement said, “We will extend the highest honor to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a show of solidarity and support for his leadership during these turbulent times.”
In order to address the issues facing the country, Ohanaeze Ndigbo also urged the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party, and New Nigeria Peoples Party in the 2023 election—Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso, respectively—to put aside their disagreements and work together with the Tinubu-led administration.
“We implore political heavyweights such as Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, and Rabiu Kwankwaso to put aside their differences and work together in support of Tinubu to guide our country through the perilous economic and security crises that stand poised to overwhelm us,” the statement said.
On Monday, the Defence Headquarters released the names and photos of the 12 troops, three officers, and the commander of the Nigerian Army who were slain by gunmen on their X account.
