Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has said the killers of officers and men of the Nigerian Army in Okuama in Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state will be fished out and made to face the law.
The governor said innocent souls would not be allowed to die in their place.
He said there is no one left in the Okuama community as he was unable to reach any of the community leaders.
The governor said he received an update from the military, and that the the situation was under control.
He added: “First and foremost, the community has been deserted.
“So, the issue of whether we’ve been able to see the community leaders, no.
“We’ve only gotten full briefing from the Army and we’re on it because this week the traditional council is going to meet and discuss.
“I’m going to invite stakeholders. We’re on top of it.”
The governor said a security meeting was held on Monday with the heads of security agencies in attendance.
“We’re on the same page to fish out the real culprits because innocent people will not suffer for it.
“They have assured us that no innocent person will be victimised.”
Oborevwori said peace and security were key priorities of his administration.
According to him, he had worked with other stakeholders from Okuama and Okoloba to address the age-long rivalry between them.
The governor said: “Since last year, we’ve been enjoying peace. We commend all the security agencies, but an unfortunate thing happened last week. People who don’t know the issues are talking.
“The two communities have been having issues for years. On February 7, they were invited by the state government.
“The two communities – the members representing the two local governments, the council chairmen and the leaders of those communities – were invited.
“They agreed to work together and signed a peace accord.
“This unfortunate incident is very sad because Delta is governed by the tenets of the rule of law and decency.
“I promised Deltans that I’d be the governor of all and we’ve been enjoying peace.
“One of my M.O.R.E. Agenda is that we’ll enhance peace and security, and that’s what we’ve been doing.
“What is happening now is something that we did not bargain for, but we want to assure everybody that there’ll be no more attacks on the villages.
“Those who are culpable will be brought to book, but the innocent citizens will not be attacked.”
He said the families of those killed will not be abandoned.
“The people that have been killed, the officers and soldiers – we must see how aaagive them a befitting burial,” Oborevwori said
