Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has urged the Federal government to put an end to the reprisal attacks allegedly being carried out by soldiers of the Nigerian Army in the Okuama community of Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.
Irate youths of the community were said to have ambushed soldiers who were drafted to the community to stop a communal clash in the area.
Fifteen bodies of the soldiers were recovered by soldiers of the Joint Task Force under the supervision of the General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, at the Okuama community.
Falana, through a statement on Sunday, urged the military to halt the killings of residents, while also calling for a full probe of the incident.
Falana had, in a statement earlier on Saturday night, condemned the brutal killing of the soldiers. He also called for the immediate prosecution of the suspects who were arrested for their involvement in the crime.
But on Sunday, Falana said: “Unfortunately, some villages were attacked last night by angry soldiers. After the attack, the villages were set on fire during the nocturnal military invasion.
“Having regard to the destruction of Odi and Zaki Biam over the killing of soldiers, the authorities ought to have taken adequate measures to prevent the attack and burning of the affected villages. It is unfortunate that the Federal Government has not issued any statement on the barbaric incident.
“In view of the tragic turn of events, I call on the military authorities to halt the destruction of the properties of innocent people in the warring communities. It ought to be pointed out that collective punishment is a serious offence under domestic and international law.”
Continuing, Falana said: “Therefore, the Delta State Government should ensure that the murder suspects and arsonists among the civilians and soldiers are fished out and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to other criminal elements in the society.
“Once again, I commiserate with the bereaved families of the slain officers and soldiers. Since they were brutally killed in the course of duty, the Federal government and the Delta State Government should compensate the dependants of the deceased military officers and soldiers. Compensation should also be extended to the victims of reprisal attacks by angry soldiers,” Falana said.