Delta State Governor, Mr Ifeanyi Okowa, has condemned the recent killing of soldiers and civilians by suspected militants.
The Nigerians who were on their legitimate assignments, were murdered in a houseboat attack in Omadino, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.
Theatre Of War
In a statement by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Charles Ehiedu Aniagwu, Governor Okowa noted that the killing was a criminality carried too far, as nothing justified the taking of lives of uniformed security men who were out to protect the common property of Nigerians.
“Your activities could turn Delta State into a theatre of war and this portends great danger to the whole population aside from casting the image of the state as insecure and unfit for investment.
“We cannot as a state, afford this rascality if we hope to make progress”, he said.
The Governor recalled his earlier appeals on any aggrieved member of the society, including the Niger Delta militants to embrace dialogue.
He said the appeal led to the decision by his administration to constitute an advocacy committee which went round the creeks and oil producing communities in the last few weeks, to canvass support for a violence-free Delta as a precondition for development.
Dr. Okowa noted that no society would develop in an atmosphere of chaos and criminality, and that no government would fold its hands in the face of this high level of aggravation and utter disregard for the sanctity of human lives while he called on the state residents to help government bring the perpetrators to book.
“For the umpteenth time, I wish to call on well-meaning people of Delta State to speak up and not only condemn the activities of these militants, but also offer their best counsel and commitment towards resolving this crisis,” he said.
The Governor extended his condolence and that of the people of Delta State to the families of the victims and prayed God to grant them eternal rest while urging the security agencies to ensure that the culprits do not go free.
He also advised members of the Niger Delta Avengers to embrace dialogue as means of resolving the crisis, adding that a peaceful and secured Delta was what was needed for development to thrive.