From, Saka Bolaji Minna
The military has assured residents of Kopa, Lunko communities and their environs in Bosso Local Government area of Niger State where 10 soldiers and 7 villagers were killed last Thursday of their safety and advised them to return back to their homes.
General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Adeniyi Oyebade, gave this assurance yesterday to the state governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, when he paid a courtesy visit to the latter’s in his office in Minna.
The villagers had fled their homes on Thursday following a face-off that led to the death of an officer, 8 soldiers and Air force men for fear of reprisal attacks by the military.
But the visiting GOC who was received on behalf of the governor by his deputy, Alhaji Mohammed Ahmed Ketso, said that now that normalcy has returned to the area, the state government should use all its information apparatus to plead with the villagers to return to the homes assuring that the safety of their lives and properties are guaranteed.
Oyebade expressed the appreciation of the military high command to the state government for its prompt intervention, visit to the scene of the incidence and to 31 Artillery Brigade to condole with the officers and men over the loss of their colleagues.
He disclosed that the 57 suspects arrested by his men and the cache of assorted weapons recovered are to be handed over to the Police by today (Tuesday, August, 9) for further investigation and prosecution.
Oyebade, who described the state as his home, assured the government and the people of his Division’s commitment to protecting the peace the state is known for.
Governor Sani Bello urged the people of the state to continue to be peaceful and report any suspicious persons or movements to appropriate security agencies
He described the incidence as unfortunate and stressed the need for joint operation by all security agencies so as to prevent the state from being infested with criminals flushed out from neighbouring states.
The governor assured the GOC of the state government’s support to the military while charging them to always respect their rules of engagement.
He also called on political office holders and politicians to be sensitive in their utterances and shun rumour capable of truncating the peace and the cordial co-existence the state is known for.
Special prayers were offered for the repose of the souls of the deceased during the courtesy visit.
Leave a Reply