The House of Representatives has directed the Nigerian Army to release the investigation report regarding the killing of 17 soldiers on March 14, 2024, in Okuama community, Ughelli South of Delta State.
The decision followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Francis Waive at the plenary Tuesday presided by Speaker Tajudeen Abass.
The House also called on the authorities of the Nigerian Army to either release the detained members of the community or charge them to court.
The House further stressed the need by the authorities to rebuild the homes destroyed by personnel of the Nigerian Army in the wake of the incident.
The House, thereby, mandated its Committee on Defense to ensure compliance and report back within four weeks, for further legislative action.
Waive, while moving the motion noted that one year after the tragic incident, the community members in the Army’s custody have not been taken to court or released on bail.
He lamented that it is unfortunate that even when the affected community requested that a judicial inquiry be made to look into the facts of the events, the option was not considered.
The lawmaker stated that since the Nigerian Army decided to conduct its own investigations, it is believed that by now, they should have had sufficient time to conclude investigations.