*Royal Fathers Call For Enquiry
BY GODWIN IJEDIOGOR
DELTA State Governor, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori, on Thursday, March 21, cautioned traditional rulers in the state against shielding suspects involved in the killing of 17 military personnel, including four officers, at Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Council on Thursday, March 14.
While addressing the traditional rulers on the dastardly incident at the state Traditional Rulers’ Council Secretariat in Asaba, Oborevwori, who said that the act was alien to the state, described it as barbaric, inhumane and unacceptable, vowing that the perpetrators must be made to face the full wrath of the law.
The governor stated that no kingdom should shield the culprits, adding that Delta is governed within the tenets of the rule of law and human decency.
He recalled: “On February 7, we summoned the people of Okoloba and Okuama communities in Bomadi and Ughelli South Local Council, respectively, including the members representing the two constituencies in the state House of Assembly, the councils chairmen and their presidents general, where we advised them that a lot has been happening in their area and they signed a peace accord.
“The killing of these Army officers and soldiers came as a rude shock to us and when this thing happened, I immediately called the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), because I was in Abuja. I came back and issued a press statement.
“On Monday, I went to Bomadi to meet with all the security chiefs, where we had our security council meeting and I got briefings from the Brigade Commander. In attendance was the GOC, 6 Division, Nigeria Army, Maj-Gen Jamil Abdussalam, and the JTF Commander, Real Admiral John Okeke.
“After the meeting, I went to Abuja to meet with Mr. President to brief him on what happened. I also went to see the COAS to discuss with him and met with the NSA and the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
“I felt that it is also proper that I brief you people, even though you may be aware. Those people who committed that evil act must face the wrath of the law. No kingdom should shield those criminals, because Delta State is governed by the tenets of the law and human decency.
“We cannot tolerate that. It has never happened in this state; to kill one Lt. Colonel, two Majors, one Captain and 13 Soldiers. We need to fish out those involved.”
He continued: “Do not hide or shield anybody. The COAS and Mr. President have assured me that innocent people will not be victimised, unless you connive with the killers of the soldiers.
“I have briefed you and make sure that you fish them out from your kingdoms. If any traditional ruler shields a criminal, that traditional ruler is inviting trouble.
“We did not bargain for this evil act, but for peace, I don’t want crisis. I have also received information that two other villages are boiling to fight, they should not fight, we want peace in all our communities.
“What are they fighting for? I have promised you people that I am going to do more for Deltans, so what are they fighting for? All of us are Deltans and we want development.
“For the first time in almost two decades, we had peace in Warri in December and people celebrated in peace. Now we have communal crisis, why? I condemn it and it’s unacceptable.
“So, please, my dear royal fathers, let us be on the same page to fish out these people. Don’t allow anybody who committed this evil act to come to your kingdoms and bring problem to your community.
“Tell us and we will hand them over to security agencies. You should not play politics with this. Don’t say that the Army have taken over your village, because they cannot just come to your village without getting information. But I assure you people that no innocent person will be victimised.
“Tell your people not to encourage crisis, because if you do, you cannot come out of it. Some people don’t have knowledge of what is happening and they start talking. What I did was to go and brief the Commander-in-Chief and later granted the State House Correspondents interview.”
Responding, Chairman of the Traditional Rulers Council, His Royal Majesty, Maj-Gen. Felix Mujakperuo, (rtd), assured that they were on same page with the governor to ensure peace and security in the state.
He stated that the security of various kingdoms would dovetail to the security of the state and the country and called for a judicial panel of enquiry to unravel the immediate and remote cause of the crisis.
In a related development, Oborevwori also briefed the Delta State Advisory and Peace Building Council, where he urged them to talk to the people on the need to maintain peace across state. The governor said government would not allow troublemakers to dissuade investors from coming to invest in the state, adding that sustainable peace was needed to attract investors to the state.
Chairman of the Peace Council, Prof. Sam Oyovbaire, commended the governor for his efforts at ensuring peace and security across the state, assuring him that members were in support of his peace building efforts.
He, therefore, appealed to communities across the state to give peace a chance for the overall growth and development of the state.
