The Chief of Defence Staff and the Service Chiefs on Wednesday met with the Senate Joint Committee (comprising Army, Navy, Defence and Airforce committees) as the upper legislative chambers kickstart investigations on the gruesome killing of 17 Nigerian Army personnel in Okuama community, Ughelli South Local Government Area (LGA) of Delta State, last Thursday.
Among those present were Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja; Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, and Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar. The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, was represented.
Before the commencement of the meeting, a minute silence was observed for the souls of the slain soldiers.
Because of the sensitivity of the issues to be discussed, Chairman of the joint committee, Senator Ahmed Lawan, disclosed that the investigative hearing will be held behind closed doors.
The Senate had on Tuesday ordered a probe into the killings, directing its Committees on Defence, Army, Navy, and Air Force to liaise with the CDS and Service Chiefs to get more information on the remote and immediate cause of the “dastardly act.”
Defence Headquarters had on Monday released the list of 17 Nigerian Army killed while they were on peace mission to warring communities in the area.
Defence Headquarters had earlier said that the 17 slain personnel belonging to the Army’s 181 Amphibious Battalion, include Commanding Officer of 1 two Majors, one Captain, and 12 soldiers.
The gruesome murder has continued to draw condemnation from authorities in Nigeria. President Bola Tinubu described it as an attack on the nation and gave marching orders to security agencies to fish out the masterminds of the attack.
“I extend my profound condolences to the families of these fallen soldiers, their colleagues, and their loved ones. The military high command is already responding to this incident. The cowardly offenders responsible for this heinous crime will not go unpunished.”