The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has called for support for the military and other security agencies to ensure that peace reigns in the Niger Delta region.
Dr Samuel Ogbuku, Managing Director of the NDDC, made this known when he led a delegation from the Commission to pay a condolence visit to the General Officer Commanding, 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam at the 6 Division headquarters in Port Harcourt.
The NDDC boss who was accompanied by the Commission’s Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye; the Executive Director, Projects, Sir Victor Antai and other directors of the Commission, commiserated with the military over the killing of 17 soldiers in Okuoma, Ugheli South Local Government Area of Delta State.
In a statement by Pius Ughakpoteni,
Director, Corporate Affairs, Ogbuku condemned the killings and expressed his condolences and that of the NDDC Governing Board to the families of the slain military personnel and the Armed Forces family.
Ogbuku posited that the Commission would continue to support the military and other security agencies in their mission to maintain peace in the Niger Delta, noting that development could only take place in an atmosphere of peace and security.
“Development and security are intertwined because without security there will be no development.”
“The peace in the region was shattered by the gruesome murder of our soldiers in Delta State. We felt it was necessary to come to commiserate and grieve with the army. This incidence is an aberration that does not define the people of the region. We condemn it in its entirety.
“The Niger Delta is the bedrock of the Nigerian economy, so it is imperative that there is peace in the region. We appeal to our people to be calm and support the Nigerian Army to fish out the perpetrators of the crime so that justice can be served,” he said.
The NDDC helmsman also stated that “Our thoughts and prayers are with you, the families of the fallen heroes, and the entire armed forces. The NDDC is willing to assist in supporting the families of those that lost their lives.”
He, however, called on the military to observe the rules of engagement while undertaking their investigations in order to protect the lives of innocent members of the community.
Reacting to a request from the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, for the completion of the NDDC jetty project in Warri, Ogbuku assured that work would commence soon, as the project had been re-assigned to another contractor.
In his remarks, Abdussalam noted that the development of the Niger Delta region could only take place when peace and security were guaranteed.
Abdussalam lamented that the country had lost some of its gallant soldiers, noting that the killing of the men in military uniform was an assault on the Nigerian nation.
He stated that the military would not rest until the perpetrators of the crime were apprehended and brought to justice.
“We will be fair, firm, decisive and professional. We will be in the area until we achieve the objective of apprehending the criminals and recovering our arms,” he declared.
The GOC appealed to the people in the communities to assist the army with information to help fish out the culprits and recover all the missing arms.
