The Nigerian Army on Monday accused the people of Okuoma community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta state of engaging in propaganda.
The army said the community’s propaganda would not prevent the fishing out of the alleged killers within the community.
In a statement released by the Army, the force said all propaganda of the last few days have confirmed that the murder of 12 soldiers was a community-orchestrated affair.
“Regrettably, the community complicit in this dastardly act has resorted to media propaganda and shenanigans, rather than engage in a positive effort to fish out the perpetrators of this heinous crime. This again is a clear indication that the murder of the troops was a communally orchestrated attack against legitimate forces,” Army said in a statement signed by the Director of Army Information, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu.
The army further said that no amount of propaganda that would arm-twist the narrative.
“They are complicit and must be ready to face the wrath of the law,” the statement said.
Nwachukwu said while law-abiding citizens are assured that there will be no reprisal on the part of the troops, he enjoined all to go about their normal activities, “even as ongoing efforts are scaled up to positively identify and isolate the criminals to account for their atrocious deeds.”
The army added, “The falsehood being peddled by these criminals and their cohorts to whip up sentiments and sway the public to coverup, endorse or support the outrageous criminal acts of their armed youth gang should be disregarded in its entirety, it is only a ridiculous attempt at justifying their crime, rather than turn in themselves to security agencies.”
He added that the Chief of Army of Staff, Lt Gen Toareed Lagbaja, has commiserated with the families of the officers and soldiers who lost their lives noting also that he has directed that no stone should be left unturned until “the perpetrators of this gruesome acts are apprehended to face the full wrath of the law.” “Troops are determined to get to these criminals, there is certainly no hiding place for them,” he vowed.
