*Says Killing Was Premeditated; Perpetrators Make Money From Crude Oil Theft
*Ewu Monarch Is Safe, Secure
THE Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, has strongly defended the decision of the military to declare suspects in the killing of its 17 officers and soldiers in Okuama community of Delta State on March 14 wanted, insisting that the military was not taking laws into its hands by doing so.
In reactions to the Defence Headquarters’ declaration of eight suspects wanted in connection with soldiers’ murder, some Nigerian lawyers, including human rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN), faulted the action, saying the Police, not the military, ought to have made the declaration.
They added that even at that, the Police have no right to declare anyone wanted without obtaining such power from the court, noting that “marshal law only applies to those in the military,” not civilians.
The lawyers also picked holes in the handing over of the traditional ruler of Ewu Kingdom, HRM Clement Ikolo, one of the eight persons declared wanted, by the Police to the military, saying it is not the constitutional duty of the military to investigate the murder.
But Musa, speaking on a television programme, argued that the declaration and prosecution of the suspects were legal, because the action is being jointly carried out by combined security agencies, including the Police and the military.
He stated: “It was premeditated, because the groups of criminals, cultists and militants make a lot of money from crude oil theft, believing they are above board.
“…and they did this deliberately because the commanding officer and his team were ensuring that any act of pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft or illegal refineries were eradicated from that region.
“The commanding officer was a gallant officer who had done well across the North. For him to be killed in such a manner as a chicken is unacceptable.
“We’re happy that the Commander-in-Chief has given us the mandate to recover the arms from the perpetrators.
“A lot of comments have been made by different people, some from a lack of understanding. When you have a joint task force, it involves members of the Armed Forces- Police, DSS, NIA and any other security agencies, so when we have an arrest, we have a joint investigation team.
“So, the army is not taking laws into their own hands.”
On the monarch who surrendered to the authorities, Musa assured that he was in safe hands.
He stated that preliminary investigation was conducted by the Joint Task Force (JTF), which included a Police component, dismissing allegations that the military was carrying on alone.
“The Police handed him over to the JTF, which has a Police component. It’s a joint investigation that is being conducted.
“We want Nigerians to understand that we love Nigerians, we defend the country and we will not do anything to hurt innocent Nigerians; we’re only after the bad guys.
“The chief is safe and secure; nothing is going to happen to him. He’s just there for questioning, which will aid in the investigation.
“I can tell you nobody can say he doesn’t know what was happening; maybe he didn’t take part directly.”
