By Gabriel Ewepu

A group called Niger Delta Peoples’ Congress’ in the United States of America, NDPC-USA, yesterday, demanded the Federal Government along with the Bayelsa and State Governments to restore peace in Ogbomotoru and Okuama communities.

The demand was made in a statement signed by the President, NDPC-USA, Bishop Samson Amajene, where the actions of the attackers were vehemently condemned over the brutal killing of 17 officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army attached to 181 Amphibious Battalion in Bomadi in Ughelli East, Local Government Area of Delta State as a result of communal clash over land disputes in the Okuama community.

Amajene noted that ‘gallant officers met their untimely deaths while responding to a distress call during a communal clash between Okuama and Okoloba communities both in Ughelli East, Delta State, on Thursday, March 14, 2024.

On behalf of NDPC, he condoled with the families of the slain officers and soldiers including innocent lives that have been killed over the brutal attacks, and added that the killings were unfortunate and alien to the culture of the Niger Delta region and what the Military stands for.

He said: “These were troops committed to peace and security of lives and property of citizens and as such, did not deserve to be killed by the same people they were there to protect.

“We therefore, call on the Federal Government, Bayelsa and Delta governments in the affected states to as a matter of urgency, do the needful to restore peace and order in the affected communities.

“We advised that the military allowed journalists to investigate and unearth what led to this dastardly act in Okuama community, as well set up an independent panel of inquiries to ascertain the true cause of this barbaric act in Okuama.”

However, the group called for state police as a panacea to the protracted issue of insecurity, “It is believed that with the existence of State police in the various states of the country will help in combating the rising insecurity in the country as well negate the wanton imposition on the states by the federal authorities and other agents in the state, so we demand that the federal government as well the National Assembly put the interest of the people first by passing the State policing law, irrespective of who wants it or not to curb or drastically reduced the high insecurity issue confronting the country.

“We also demand as a matter of urgency that both the federal and state governments think outside the box by creating viable jobs to engage these youths, so that they are gainfully employed to earn their daily living and keep away from vices.

“We also demand that the Federal Government of Nigeria considers the high cost of living and increase police salaries, so that they are not easily bought over by those purporting to do more harm than good in the country.

“We are also calling for concerted efforts and support from the military and other security agencies to bring the killers of the 17 soldiers to justice, as well as appealing that the military cease from further killing of innocent people, most especially children.”