The Nigerian Army says soldiers killed in the Okuama community in Delta State are to be buried today (Wednesday), at the National Cemetery, Abuja.
This was disclosed in a statement posted on the Nigerian Army’s X handle on Tuesday.
It added that the burial will be held by 3 pm.
President Bola Tinubu is billed to be the Special Guest of Honour at the event.
It would be recalled that at least 17 military personnel were killed by irate youths during a communal clash over a land dispute in Bomadi and Okuoma communities in the state.
While the Defence Headquarters vowed that there would be injurious consequences, it released the names of the Army personnel who were killed during a peace mission to Okuama.
Meanwhile, Tinubu and the Senate ordered the military to apprehend the killers of the military men.
Responding to the development, Tinubu, in a statement he personally signed, declared, “The cowardly offenders responsible for this heinous crime will not go unpunished.”
The response is titled ‘Statement on the killing of Nigerian soldiers on a peace mission to Okuoma community in Delta State.’
While noting that the military’s high command was already responding to this incident, Tinubu gave fresh marching orders for the manhunt and prosecution of the perpetrators.
“The Defence Headquarters and Chief of Defence Staff have been granted full authority to bring to justice anybody found to have been responsible for this unconscionable crime against the Nigerian people,” the President stated.
He added, “As the Commander-in-Chief, I join all well-meaning Nigerians and the men and women of our armed forces to mourn and express my profound grief over the needless death of our gallant soldiers.”
