Pela Condemns Killing of Soldiers, Razing Down Of Houses In Okuama

.. Urges FG To Deescalate The Crisis

The Delta State Labour Party (LP) 2023 Governorship Candidate, Deacon Kennedy Pela, has strongly condemned the recent killing of military personnels and the razing down of Okuama Community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, just as he called on the federal government to urgently stop the issue from deescalating.

Pela made this statement while addressing journalists at the palace of the HRM The Ovie of Ughievwen Kingdom, during his fact finding visit to ascertain the level of distruction the crisis have caused.

He expressed deep regret over the tragic incident, describing it as a sorrowful loss of lives.

He said; “This is a disaster. This issue should have not escalated to the point were the soldiers were killed in the first place, if the crisis had been properly managed.”

“I heard that this communual crisis between Okuama and Okoloba communities has been on for a while; so if it has been properly managed, it would not have gotten to this extent were soldiers got kicked at the first place”.

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“Also it couldn’t have gotten up to the point were a whole community was raised down. Unfortunately that has happened and it is still not stopping; and from what I heard, other communities in the riverine are been pursued because they are looking for the people that killed the soldiers.

Continuing Pela said; “I had arranged to send relief materials. I had also intended to go and see the Ovie of Ewu kingdom but I am unable to fined him. Apart from the people that have been killed, those people who sustained various degree of injuries can not stay in the hospital because of fear of been arrested. People that are now refuges from their homes can not to go refugee camps because they will be arrested. So they are runnng around in the bush and then die of hunger; that is my worry”.

Lamenting he said; “We need to get to the point in this country were even one human life is sacred. Yes, 17 soldiers died because of one person that was killed. Now a whole community are going to die. So it has to stop somewhere, were we will have human lives as sacred because one human life is hard to loose”.

“Therefore at this point, we stand with the state government to condemn what has happened; and to also appeal to the authorities to de- escalate the crisis so that lives can be saved and investigation can happen at an atmosphere of peace.”

“And I am sure that in an atmosphere of peace they will be able to find the criminals because when the criminals are fished out and they are the ones that are dealt with; then it will serve as deterrent to others. So I am strongly appealing to the federal government to please temper justice that they (FG) are melting now with mercy so that more lives can not be lost,” Pela appealed.