The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-General Taoreed Lagbaja, has assured the family members of officers and soldiers killed in the Okuama community of Delta State of maximum support.
He said the slain officers and soldiers left behind 10 widows, three of whom are four, five and eight months’ pregnant, 21 orphans and many other dependents which include parents.
The COAS stated this on Wednesday when the 17 military personnel were buried at the National Military Cemetery, Abuja.
The soldiers were murdered by vicious criminals in the riverine Okuoma village on March 14, 2024 when the men in uniform were on a peace mission to warring Okuama and Okoloba communities in the area.
The COAS described the killing of the soldiers as “most barbaric”, saying it took 72 hours after the unfortunate incident to recover the mutilated bodies of the slain soldiers.
Lt-General Lagbaja reiterated the Army’s commitment to bring the perpetrators of the heinous crime to book and recover all missing weapons.
He said three of the widows of the slain soldiers are pregnant. He assured the families of the fallen soldiers of maximum supports from the Nigerian Army.
He said, “The Okuoma killing has added to the care of the Nigerian Army and by extension, the Nigerian State, 10 widows, three of whom are four, five and eight months’ pregnant, 21 orphans and many other dependents which include parents.
“While commiserating with the families of these gallants soldiers, I assure them that the Nigerian Army and the good people of this country will not leave them in the cold.”
