- Femi Falana advised military authorities to focus prosecution efforts solely on those responsible for killing military personnel in Delta State
- Falana commended the military for apprehending some ringleaders behind the attack and urged collaboration with local communities for further arrests
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has advised military authorities to focus their prosecution efforts solely on those responsible for the killing of military personnel in Delta State.
Falana’s statement on Saturday came in response to the March 14 ambush and murder of two majors, one captain, and 12 soldiers of the 181 Amphibious Battalion in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State by irate youths while on a peace mission to Okuoma community.
Commending the military for apprehending some of the ringleaders behind the attack, Falana emphasized the importance of avoiding reprisal massacres of innocent civilians, citing past incidents in Odi, Bayelsa State, and Zaki Biam, Benue State.
“We commend the military authorities for resisting the urge to subject the two conflicting communities to retaliatory attacks, considering the history of multiple tragedies in similar circumstances,” he stated.
Acknowledging the arrest of some gunmen involved in the crime, Falana called on the Delta State Government, local governments, and the affected communities to collaborate with the police in identifying and apprehending the remaining perpetrators while uncovering the motive behind the heinous act.
Expressing condolences to the Nigerian Army and the families of the slain officers and soldiers, Falana urged the Nigeria Police Force to conduct a thorough investigation and prosecute the suspects promptly.