Delta governor tones down soldiers killing, calls it “assault”

Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori toned down the severity of the killing of 16 soldiers in Okuama community last Saturday, describing the incident as a “distressing assault”.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Governor Oborevwori said that he met President Bola Tinubu to apprise him of the “gravity of the situation.”

“The incident, which sparked condemnation from both state and federal authorities, promises swift justice for the perpetrators,” the statement reads.

The governor was also quoted as saying that he had taken “proactive measures to avert further violence.”

The statement noted the previous efforts to reconcile Okuama and its feuding neighbour.

Governor Oborevwori’s promised to provide “adequate support for the bereaved families” and ensure “lasting peace for the affected communities.”

TheCornet reports that there has been pushback from the community on the soldiers’ murder. In its riposte, the military on Monday said the community had launched a propaganda against it, in the bid to sway public opinion.

At the same time, President of Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio said he believes “mercenaries”, and not the natives, ambushed and killed the ill-fated soldiers.

In his official reaction to the incident, President Tinubu revealed he had given the military “the full authority” to bring the killers to justice.