‘Barbaric, unacceptable’ — Peter Obi condemns killing of army personnel in Delta

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, has condemned the killing of army officers and soldiers in Delta state.

On Thursday, some personnel of the Nigerian army — comprising a lieutenant colonel, two majors, one captain, and 12 soldiers — were killed by youths while on a peace mission at Okuoma, Bomadi LGA of Delta state.

Reacting in a post on his X handle, Obi called for an immediate investigation of the incident.

“This killing is barbaric and totally unacceptable and should not be tolerated by Nigerians and any sane society,” Obi wrote.

“For a nation already combatting a high level of insecurity, the killing of our security personnel who put their lives on the line for the security of the nation will be too much of a burden to bear.

“These sad occurrences and many cases of killings, kidnappings, and violent crimes around the country have continued to fuel very deep concerns over the security of the nation.

“These security operatives are making a lot of sacrifices in their line of duty and, in some cases, pay the supreme price. We must therefore appreciate and value them by showing empathy towards them and ensuring healthcare for those who are wounded.

“There should be adequate compensation and welfare packages for the families of those who die in active service. All of us should always show our love by commiserating with their families and even visiting them in such difficult times.”

The former Anambra governor urged security agencies not to be demotivated by the incident.

“I sincerely condole with the families of the security personnel that died and their security formations (Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force respectively) over the sad loss of their personnel,” Obi added.

“I encourage them not to be dispirited by these ugly developments but to see it as a challenge to increase their efforts in their duties.

“I urge the government and the security agencies to leave no stone unturned in investigating, arresting, and prosecuting those behind these ugly acts.

“May God grant eternal rest to all the security officers who have lost their lives fighting for the peace and security of our nation. May God grant all of us the fortitude to bear this sad, irreplaceable loss.”