Alumni of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies have condemned the killing of military personnel in Delta State.
NIPSS is a policy formation centre for bureaucrats, private sector leaders, military officers, and medium-rank and senior civil servants
The Defence Headquarters on Saturday said a total of 15 military personnel were killed during a communal clash in Delta state
They were said to have met their deaths after responding to a distress call during the clash between Okuama and Okoloba communities in Delta state on Thursday.
The alumni of the institute, however, described the killing as an “unforgivable affront to our nation’s values.”
In a statement on Saturday by the president, Emmanuel Okafor, the alumni demanded that the perpetrators, including the community leaders, must face the law.
The statement read, “The Alumni Association of the National Institute vehemently condemns the spine-chilling assault on our brave troops of the 181 Amphibious Battalion, Bomadi LGA, Delta State. This is an unforgivable affront to our nation’s values, therefore our hearts bleed for the families of these fallen heroes and all Nigerians.
“Consequently, this despicable act of barbarism must not be swept under the rug. We demand swift and decisive action from both the Federal and Delta State governments. The perpetrators, including the community leaders, must face the full force of the law.
“No one who dares to spill the blood of our defenders and attack Nigeria should escape justice. The perpetrators must face swift justice, with no leniency shown to those who dare to spill the blood of our beloved soldiers for whatever reason.”
The NIPSS alumni feared that the attack could discourage future peace efforts, urging the government to prevent a recurrence of the incident.
“This cowardly attack not only dampens our spirits but also threatens future peace efforts as it strikes at the heart of our nation’s resolve for peace. The government must take decisive measures to prevent such atrocities from recurring. The culprits, especially the youths involved, must be swiftly brought to justice. The traditional rulers overseeing this tragedy must face consequences for their negligence, ” the statement added.
