Murdered Soldiers: Clark Condemns ‘Dastardly Act’; Nigerians Call For Restraint As Soldiers Sack Communities

The Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, has condemned the brutal murder of some soldiers in Delta state last week.

The leader of the Forum, Edwin Clark made its position known in a statement on Sunday.

According to the elder statesman, the culprits must not be spared for their crime.

The magazine reported that 16 soldiers including their commander, two majors and other were killed by some suspected youths while on a peace mission to Okuama Community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state.

The killing has elicited trenchant criticism from not a few Nigerians who are calling on the security forces to ensure that those involved are fished out and punished.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday ordered the military to go after the murderers, and bring them to justice.

Clark in the statement yesterday described the killing as a “dastardly act” which is “totally unacceptable.”

Clark in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, March 17, expressed his pain and displeasure over the dastardly act.

He said, “There must be no sacred cows,  the culprits must be brought to book as early as possible.

“PANDEF mourns the slain military personnel and commiserates with all the families and the entire Nigerian Army.

“PANDEF further urges the Nigerian Army and other security personnel around the country to continue with their great national service and not to be deterred by this present sad development.”

Meanwhile, well-meaning Nigerians have appealed to the military to apply restraint in their quest to arrest the fleeing killers, following report on Sunday that soldiers have clamped on the communities where the crime was committed to avenge the death of the slain servicemen.

Reports said some houses in the communities were razed down yesterday by some suspected soldiers who, allegedly killed some persons, including children and women.