The South East Development Peace Initiative has deemed it intolerable that soldiers have recently died in the Delta State hamlet of Okuama.
The Federal Government must lead by example while dealing with the offenders, according to a statement issued by President Vitus Okechi.
The group stated that attacking security officers constituted a crime worse than treason and posed a direct danger to the rule of law and public order.
It emphasised that all well-meaning persons should denounce such crimes and set a bad example for the attackers in order to deter similar heinous acts in the future.
The attack on military personnel, according to Okechi, poses a threat to the survival of the Nigerian state.
According to him, “the gruesome murder of the 16 officers and soldiers is a crime of monumental proportion, worse than treason.”
“No serious government in the world will keep quiet and allow non-state actors to not only use violence against civilians but also against its armed forces to the extent of killing colonels and majors to go scot-free,” he added.
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Nigeria has been a fragile nation split along ethno-religious lines that have affected almost every aspect of society, according to the former Enugu Commissioner and Local Government Chairman. He continued, saying that “the military remained the only institution that has kept the country united.”
“They have their own challenges, but just go to any military barrack, and you will see unity and patriotism on display.
“We should not allow this unique institution that is strategic to the collective survival of Nigeria to be desecrated.
“The perpetrators of this heinous act must be fished out and punished.
“It should not be tolerated by Nigerians and any sane society.
“For a nation already combating high levels of insecurity, the killing of its security personnel, who put their lives on the line for the nation, would be too much a burden to bear.
“These security operatives are making a lot of sacrifices in their line of duty and, in some cases, pay the supreme price.
“As citizens and stakeholders in the Nigerian project, we must all be deliberate in appreciating and valuing them and the humongous sacrifices they make in protecting Nigerians.
“I must outrightly say without mincing words and fear of contradiction that the killing no doubt is barbaric, cruel and totally unacceptable and should not be tolerated by Nigerians and any sane society”.
