JUST IN: Nigerian troops likely killed by foreigners – Akpabio 

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday, said he does not believe that Nigerians were involved in the killing of soldiers in Delta State. 

Speaking on Tuesday during a debate on two merged motions by Senators Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, APC, Katsina Central, and Edeh Dafinone, APC, Delta Central, Akpabio opined that those who killed the soldiers may be mercenaries.

READ ALSO: FLASHBACK: Four times Nigerian Army kill innocent civilians during revenge mission since 1990

He said, “We are not at war. I don’t think they are from the Niger Delta. They may be mercenaries.”

Okuama and Okoloba communities have been in dispute over the ownership of a controversial land lying on their border since January, and the crisis between them has led to the killing of many people, including children. 

When another fight broke out on Thursday,  March 14, the Nigerian Army deployed soldiers for a peacekeeping mission to the communities. The soldiers were, however, gruesomely murdered, leading to public outrage.

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Meanwhile, communities in Ughelli South and Bomadi local government areas have been taken over by troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, who also oversee the 63 brigade in Asaba. While there have been videos of houses being razed on Sunday morning, it is not clear yet if it was soldiers on a revenge mission who razed houses, but many residents have abandoned their homes.

In his condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers, Tinubu said the cowardly offenders responsible for the heinous crime will not go unpunished.