An elder statesman and leader of the Ijaw Nation, Edwin Clark, has condemned the recent killing of 16 soldiers in Okuama, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.
While describing the attack as shocking, barbaric, and wicked, Mr Clark said Nigeria has never witnessed such a tragedy, even at the peak of the Boko Haram insurgency.
Mr Clark, who stated this during an interview on Arise TV, called for collaboration between the communities and military to fish out the perpetrators.
He said: “What happened a few days ago is very shocking, very barbaric, and wicked. I think what is required really, the military, together with the communities, all of us should take that task to look for these people who committed this murder. It is very very important.
“In fact, I was so sad when I heard that Lt Col. Ali was involved because on Thursday, 14 March, I spoke to him. I think about 8:45 about my dead younger brother, Col Bernard Clark (rtd), who died recently and was to be buried on Friday to have a military burial.
“I had to contact him. And he told me he was in a vehicle and that he would speak to me later, only to hear that he was among them. At that time he was speaking to me from Agbor in Delta State.
“There’s another one, Major B. I spoke to him about the same time on Wednesday. So I am indeed very, very sad that we should lose such a people at a time, even in the Boko Haram war we have never lost soldiers like that.
“We all support Mr President when he said the people should be looked for,” he said.
The elder statesman also appealed to the Military to act with restraint while going after perpetrators.
“Well, my appeal to our gallant soldiers is that they should act maturely and not take the law in their own hands. I know they are provoked. We are all provoked. There are innocent children, pregnant women everywhere,” he added.
