Akpabio speculates mercenaries killed soldiers, Clark says ‘It’s difficult to believe’
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday speculated at plenary those who killed 17 soldiers in Okuama in Delta would have been mercenaries because it is not in the character of Niger Deltans to commit this type of crime.
But away from the Chamber, Ijaw Nation leader Edwin Clark said it is difficult to believe the murders were mercenaries.
Akpabio argued those responsible may be mercenaries during a debate on two merged motions by Senators Abdulaziz Yar’Adua and Edeh Dafinone.
Dafinone (APC, Delta Central) had raised a motion calling for relief and assistance to victims of the attack. But Akpabio told him not to conclude yet.
Akpabio said: “I don’t want you to conclude. I don’t believe these people are from the Niger Delta – those who did the killings.
“With respect to men and women in uniform, that is I why I am saying that your additional prayers should actually be ‘to carry out a thorough investigation to know whether these people were mercenaries from outside Niger Delta who came to commit.”
“I am a Niger Deltan. I don’t think these people are Niger Deltans. We are not at war. Even in a period of war [you do not] lose such number of personnel. No community will go to the extent of doing this kind of thing. I don’t think they are from Niger Delta.”
“Let us look at ourselves,” says Clark
Clark insisted Arise Television the leaders of the communities involved in the incident must be questioned without anyone of them being treated as a sacred cow.
“Well that is difficult to believe. I don’t think we should expect this thing. Let’s look at ourselves. As I said, I spoke to Lt Col. Ali on Thursday and he went to the place on Thursday and died,” Clark recounted.
“Except they had information they were going to Okuama. Otherwise, nobody knew they were going there.
“[For] people to come from outside to waylay them, to surround them is a matter they should investigate. We can’t rule anything out but at the same time let us look at ourselves.
“The leaders of the various communities must be brought together, and find out from them, nobody should be treated as a sacred cow.
“I may say this: I am an Ijaw man and I will be the last person to allow this type of matter to degenerate into a situation whereby we have intercommunal fracas or fight.”
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