Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has called on the Federal Government to put an end to the reprisal attacks by soldiers of the Nigerian Army in the Okuama community of Ughelli South Local Government Area in Delta State.
Falana made this call in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday.
OsunDailyNG recalls that some irate youths reportedly ambushed soldiers who were drafted to the community to stop a communal clash.
Fifteen bodies of the soldiers were recovered by soldiers of the Joint Task Force under the supervision of the General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, at the Okuama community.
Some youths from Okoloba were said to have ambushed and killed three Okuama youths – Igho Meshack, Godspower Awusa and Okiemute Agbabuleke, over an age-long land dispute in the area as they were returning from Okwagbe.
In a reprisal attack, some Okuama youths on Wednesday reportedly ambushed one Mr Anthony Aboh, an indigene of Okoloba, and held him hostage.
But, operatives of the JTF swiftly swung into action and moved to Okuama to rescue the hostages.
The killing of the military personnel has resulted in reprisal attacks on the community by soldiers.
Reacting to the development, Falana urged the military to halt the attacks.
He also called for a full probe of the incident.
“Unfortunately, some villages were attacked last night by angry soldiers. After the attack, the villages were set on fire during the nocturnal military invasion.
“Having regard to the destruction of Odi and Zaki Biam over the killing of soldiers, the authorities ought to have taken adequate measures to prevent the attack and burning of the affected villages.
“It is unfortunate that the Federal Government has not issued any statement on the barbaric incident.
“In view of the tragic turn of events, I call on the military authorities to halt the destruction of the properties of innocent people in the warring communities.
“It ought to be pointed out that collective punishment is a serious offence under domestic and international law,” he said.
