Human rights group, Centre for Law and Civil Culture (CLCC), has called on the National Assembly as well as the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to set up an independent inquiry to unravel the circumstances behind the killing of 17 security personnel and soldiers in Delta State to prevent future recurrence.
The group also said the Governor of Delta State, the Delta State Police and other sister security agencies as well as members of the press should be given unfettered access to the troubled community.
While speaking with newsmen, the CLCC Executive Secretary, Mr. AbdulGaneey Imran and the Deputy Legal Adviser, Oyinkansola Ngozi Chukwu said the Nigerian Army cannot objectively and passionately investigate the gruesome killings of their men.
The duo said an investigation is the responsibility of the Nigerian Police. In the interest of justice and fairness, the group called on the Police, which is statutorily empowered to carry out investigation, not to abdicate its constitutional and statutory responsibility.
“No excuse can sustain and justify the senseless and brutal murder. It is callous, heartless, cruel and barbaric and should be condemned by every right-thinking Nigerian.
“CLCC grieve about this unfortunate incident and commiserate with the Army, the respective families of the murdered officers as well as the good people of Nigeria. It is indeed a great national loss and the victims will forever remain heroes of our land.
“However, this unfortunate incident underscores the need to deepen our democratic culture, values and the application of the rule of law,” they said.
The group said the Police are yet to contradict the report that the “Delta State Police Command is not aware of the incident.” CLCC, however, expressed worries and concerns about the development as the police is the legitimate body to address any acts of civil disobedience in Nigeria.
The body said: “Different media houses have also narrated how the community was razed, and innocent women and children tragically murdered in a reappraisal attack by soldiers in the name of searching for the culprits.
“The recent statement by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa to the effect that they have identified the persons responsible for the attack and that the army is following up with the suspected culprits underscore the need to exercise great restraint and caution in responding to a distress situation such as this as it will also be improper to discover that another person entirely committed the atrocities in respect of which innocent citizens of the Okuama community, inclusive of Children and women, have been gruesomely killed and their entire properties destroyed. Two wrongs can never make a right under any circumstance.” CLCC urged the Army to exercise great caution and ensure that innocent people are not further punished for the offence they knew nothing about.
